Muggle Lifestyle

[FRANÇOIS LAFFONT]

Franck quickly came to the conclusion that he needed to work again. Not a job at Diagon Alley to get some sickles, no. He needed muggle money. After all, he was going to a muggle school. It was not so much paying for food or various desk accessories that assured him he needed a job though. More than a job, he needed his own place. And a phone. He kept telling people that his father was a diplomat and that he resided at a building owned by the embassy right now, that it would be a huge trouble for them to visit him hence why whenever they had to do some teamwork or wished to study in a group it was best not to go to his place. He also claimed that it was why it was best not to call him, as it may not reach him or at least not as fast as it would getting to him at school. Either way, it was a lot of lies he had to tell and Franck hated lying. He felt very uncomfortable having to come up with stuff whenever someone wanted his number or to walk him home. Could muggles even enter the building? He didn't want to see, in case they could not. But it made it clear he needed an apartment. It had been extremely stressful to him that year when he had to find his own place and that his father helped him pay for but all that stress aside, it was the right call and he should get back to this.

He was far from having enough money right now though and he was hoping he could pay for it by himself this time, not just having his father pay for it. But he got a job. Granted, it wasn't much. He was a barrista at some coffee place and had to clean the tables from time to time when not making coffee or getting some pastries out to fill the shelf. It was a job he did before, back then during his first year of college though, so he had enough knowledge of it, which was a bonus.

He didn't tell a lot of people about this job, but he did tell LALIA KNIGHTLEY , suggesting she came over if she wanted at some point. She even knew when he worked, in case she wanted to see him when he was not at home for that. He knew a lot was going on for her also. He didn't know how many more years she would go to that music school but he knew she was getting pretty close to one of her teachers and was sometimes rather confused about this. He didn't want to judge her for that. She too had so much trouble finding love and had a bunch of very complicated and hurtful relationships in the past, if she was happy with that man, he thought she deserved that.

While he did tell her when he was working, he didn't necessarily expect her to remember it all well or to come over for real. It was why he grinned, as he cleaned a table and saw her. It was calm right now and he spotted her as soon as she entered the place. "So good to see you. How are you?"

[LALIA KNIGHTLEY]

Lalia had to say that she too considered getting a job at some point but she had been lucky as people were recognizing her talent and hiring her to do soundtracks for a couple of shows and it gave her enough income to survive in the muggle world. She would still have money from the wizarding world but she was aware that eventually, she would have to do something about it. She would rather not think too much of it for now as she was about to pay a visit to one of her closest friends, Franck. She had gotten his news, telling her that he was working as a Barista, and paying a visit to him as he worked would only surprise him no?

She smiled and waved at him as he immediately spotted her when she entered the shop. It was a nice place and she thought that it suited him for a temporary job. Besides, he had more of a muggle lifestyle than she had. She did believe that it was because she was a pureblood witch who was only immersing herself within it all.

“Franck!” She said happily as she reached out for him. “I hope it’s not a crowded moment for you and we can talk for a bit.” She said to him. She did want to catch up on him and it would take some time as she had been busy with various aspects of her life and had to make spaces back for her friends.

[FRANÇOIS LAFFONT]

Franck needed to be indenpendent. He realised it was tough, when his father left the country when the death eaters rose to power. He had trouble dealing with the stress. It was something he would have to work on. Luckily, with the Ministry back to normal, Franck could reclaim the apartment they kept at his father's disposal. That took care of one thing, but he was a student at a muggle school, with muggle expenses. That required muggle money. Something he couldn't ask from the Minsitry of Magic.

The job was not the best nor was the pay, but Franck had done something similar in the past so he could manage. Besides, not all jobs could accomodate a student and from what he heard around him, this was the kind of jobs college students would pick up. He also only had to look at the others working with him. They were all roughly around the same age. It wasn't a big shop, it was cozy, with its own style. At least, it felt like that to Franck, but he couldn't say he went and visited a lot of cafes in his life.

He came to greet his friend as Lalia walked in. He gave her a quick hug. "No, no, it's alright, you are not disturbing at all. You want a coffee?" he asked her. There weren't a lot of people indeed and most couldn't care less about Franck or the new customer that entered. As long as they could be left alone with their drinks, they didn't mind. He gestured for her to pick a seat, any really, as he was ready to get her a drink. Without being in a rush, he figured he could sit down and talk. Lalia wouldn't mind anyway, if he had to get up and work in the middle of their conversation. She would understand.

[LALIA KNIGHTLEY]

Lalia was looking forward to having a conversation with Franck even if it was at his workplace. They would be able to catch up on each other for a bit and she was longing to talk to someone about her newest relationship or at least, give him hints of it. She didn’t know if the gossips here in muggle London flew as fast as in the magical world so she was going to try to be careful with what she was telling him in the public eye.

She also wanted to know how it was to work with muggles making sure not to use the term here in case they overheard. She learned to be careful with the magical aspect of her life. She thought she did the job well so far and was hoping it would stay the same. She knew that she would eventually have to say it to Eoghan but she wanted it to be the right time. It would be a hard pill to swallow, especially with what she went through. Would he still trust her despite the fact she hid that aspect of her life from him or not? Those questions constantly wandered through the back of her mind and she wasn’t able to shut them down.

“Wonderful, I would like one, whatever is the speciality coffee-wise, I’ll try it.” She said to him with a smile. It was the first time she went to that Café so might as well try something they were proud of, no?

[FRANÇOIS LAFFONT]

Franck spent the first years of his life as a muggle and had been a student at a muggle university for a year, so he knew a faire bit about them, on how to blend in. Maybe he didn't know the trends as well as other people his age, but surely that could be ecxused. It had not always been easy. He didn't learn the same thing, often had to hide certain aspects of his life, but he managed. He had friends at his school and found a job. He could easily pass for a muggle. If the wizards had anything to focus on people's mental health other than maybe a few potions, he would have done it there, but he didn't find any, so here he was. He still planned on helping the wizard community, he just needed the tools learned here first.

He was glad to see Lalia. She was learning her skills here also. He didn't know if she had a job. He knew for her school, and her parents, and sometimes wondered how she was holding up but he didn't push it too far. If she said she was fine, and didn't look like she was holding herself up to not fall apart, then he wanted to believe her. Then again, he had been so stressed the last year that he wouldn't be surprised if he missed some signs from her. He was doing a lot better now and intended to payback if he had been a dismissive friend during the war and his first year of studies.

He laughed at her order. "How much coffee can you handle? I'll make you something, just don't expect some super fancy design. We have someone who likes to claim he's a latte artist, whatever that is, but he isn't around." Luckily, no one else heard him. He couldn't help it though. Some designs were pretty, but considering you had to drink it, he didn't see the point. Franck moved towards the counter though and behind it to the machines so he could prepare her something. He was willing to pay for it. "You want something to eat too or just coffee?" he asked, waving towards the various pastries and sandwiches on display. "Then you can tell me how things are going for you at your school."

[LALIA KNIGHTLEY]

Lalia was happy to get to talk to Franck again. She felt like it was so long last time they got to do that and felt bad for it. Though, they were both busy with their respective life and studies so she couldn’t hold a grudge against him for not calling her before. She wanted to talk to Franck, about a lot of things. She wanted to tell him that she still loved it at the school and that she had found more reasons to do so as it wasn’t only referring to her studies but also to her personal life. Though, she was a bit afraid of the people who would eavesdrop.

They could also talk about the muggle ways they had learned from being with them. It could be fun. Franck certainly knew more than she did as he was a muggle-born but she was fine with it. After all, he could dib her more on how to be more...normal around them. Besides, so far, they put her originality on the fact that she was an artist so she was good with it.

“Not that much, since I’m not completely used to it yet but I like it.” She admitted. “I’ll have to come back then the day your latte artist is there, makes me curious to see what it is.” She admitted to him. She would pay for her things though and didn’t want to burden Franck with it. “Yes, something light.” She grinned at him as he insisted on wanting to know about how school was for her and pointed at a sandwich she wanted. “Indeed I will.” She said as she pulled her wallet out to pay.

[FRANÇOIS LAFFONT]

Franck was comfortable talking here with lalia. Maybe she might attract some attention, but it was something she had to be used to by now. Muggles seemed to have even more of a struggle against Veela, even those who weren't full veela. At least no one was running towards her right now to offer her things or show what they could do. Franck owndered sometimes how much it bothered her and how she dealt with it. She must hope that she could turn it off. If any other employee wanted to serve her though, he'd stop them, having things in hand here.

Unlike her, he didn't feel like he had much to say. He was still studying, he found work. Those were big things and he could talk about it if she asked, but he didn't know if he had that much to say about it. He would have more to say if they were to talk aout blending in with the muggles and the struggles that it could be. He didn't know if it was what she came here to talk about. He would listen to her first. She came to hum after all, and he wanted to believe it wasn't just to see where he worked and congratulate him for this.

"It's true that they weren't exactly offering us that at school," he admitted. Pumpkin juice, yes, but there wasn't much coffee. "You should try that, they love putting pumpkin spice in coffee during the fall season. Not sure why, but they like adding flavours to it," he told her with a bit of a laugh as he went to prepare her a coffee. He found it fascinating, as he would only drink it with milk, but they could add so many other things sometimes, not to add the various types there were.

He was done with the coffee when he saw her pointing at a sandwich and prepared it for her, grilling it just a bit. "That's drawings you make with the foam from the milk. But he also heard of places where they make whole images, using different colors and all and that interests him. We just have to make sure he doesn't take forever doing stuff like that for every customers. They're not all interested, some want a coffee and leave quick." But he supposed Lalia would be the type to let the guy have fun with the design. Franck will have to be the one telling him to work faster. He didn't like having to do that but, as weird as it sounded, he was one of the employees with the most experience. He never thought it possible but it was the case.

He didn't want to make her pay but knew he had to. Plus she was already pulling out her wallet. So he did the next best thing he could and offered a discount before walking with her things in hand to a table a little away from the other customers so they could talk."So, how are you?"

[LALIA KNIGHTLEY]

Lalia nodded, agreeing with him on the matter. Caffeinated drinks were probably prohibited at school and for a reason. That didn’t mean they couldn’t have these now that they were out in the muggle world. They came up with great food ideas and she liked to explore the town when she could and blend in with the muggles. It always turned out to be an interesting adventure whenever she did. “You’re right, they probably should keep it that way; can you imagine caffeinated kids?” She asked with a laugh. They probably only offered the drink to professors and it was fine that way. “Really?” She asked after he talked of pumpkin spices, it did sound good though. “It might give it a good twist.” They were always so inventive!

“That’s true but it’s still interesting to see how they could turn coffee into a piece of art.” She said with a smile. “They can be quite ingenious” She added after she thanked him when he came back with her cup of coffee. “Thanks. By the way, congrats on your new job. ” She said before they started the real discussion, and the real reason of her presence in the shop.

“I’m doing wonderful and I have some news for you too; I’m in a relationship.” She said the last part in a hushed kind of voice tone so only he could her and smiled widely at that.

[FRANÇOIS LAFFONT]

Franck could not recall any coffee offered at Hogwarts. Shame, really. He had tasted several when he was with his father, regardless of the place in the world he was stationed to at the moment. He was mostly in England, using this to stick around while his son studied in the country, but he had travelled around the world too, Franck sometimes following him. But he supposed British people preferred their tea. That beverage was in abundance, they mustn't have thought necessary to add coffee. He laughed at Lalia's suggestion. "Why not? There is some in tea, sometimes as much as in coffee. And it might have been useful during our exams at the end of the year." He was still laughing though. He supposed wizards had other methods to keep themselves awake while studying for their N.E.W.T.s.

"Yes," he confirmed to her. "And peppermint during Christmas, or soemthing to make it like a gingerbread cookie. And who knows what else at other season. Or just regular chocolate or hazelnut all year round. For those who wants coffee without tasting coffee, I suppose." He loved his coffee to taste what it was supposed to taste. But he also sampled some pretty terrible ones. Maybe those flavours would have helped then make it less horrible.

He smield as she congratulated him. "Thanks. I needed that. I can't live with my father forever. I failed the last time but everything was pretty stressful then. It's calmer now." Spending his fist year alone and at university at the same time as wizards were fighting each other sure had not been easy! Franck realised just how badly he was at handling pressure then. Things were better now, though. If he ended up moving to a place of his own, he wouldn't stress as much. But he figured he should start by getting more money, as last time his father helped paying. Plus, he didn't really move of his own volition, his father being gone from England meant he needed to leave the apartment too. Yes, things would be better this time.

And things were better for Lalia also. He showed surprised as she shared her news: she was in a relationship. "Really? Do I know the person?" He knew his friend did not have the best of luck with relationships in the past. He hoped it would go better this time. She certainly looked happy about it. He couldn't help but smile too looking at her.

[LALIA KNIGHTLEY]

Lalia giggled along with Franck as they talked about coffee and Hogwarts. “Probably only the professors were allowed to have it I can’t imagine caffeinated students. I’d feel bad for the professors.” She said as she tried to picture this. Poor teachers indeed they might want to rip their heads off if it was to ever happen. It was just a sad thing that she was only starting to discover the wonders of a good cup of coffee when you weren’t completely awake. Wizards truly needed to expand their visions and embrace the muggle lifestyle more.

Interesting to see how they could play with flavours considering the holiday that was the closest. She’d make sure to try their new brews then and see how they tasted besides, it was giving her an excuse to see Franck some more now that they were adulating.

She agreed with him, they needed to live their lives and have their jobs. “I agree, it’s one step closer to being an adult, we sound so old can you believe that not so long ago we were students at Hogwarts?” She asked him as she thought about it. Time flew by so fast!

She smiled and looked down a bit shyly as he questioned the person. “No, he is a muggle...” She said, wondering about what his say would be on the matter.

[FRANÇOIS LAFFONT]

Franck shrugged. He had no idea how caffeine affected Lalia, but seeing the amount of tea they could give everyone, he felt like even the students might have had their fair share. "I have been drinking some for a while, whenever I went to France with my father for the summer, never had a problem with it." He also remembered in Italy. The coffee there was a lot stronger. He wouldn't recommand it to kids at all. "They needed to somehow give some to Binns though, whatever way possible," he added with a laugh. Was the ghost still there and teaching? Someone needed to tell him maybe death was a good enough reason to retire. history would be a lot more interesting then.

He nodded, but, at the same time, looked amused at how she was agreeing. "A lot happened in our last years, and right after we left school." Franck had just graduated when the war occured and he was left on his own. Well, at least he knew he did not handle pressure well now? He wasn't sure it was a positive thing, but that was something he could work on. "Have you not been living on your own since graduation though?

Franck would have been interested regardless of who Lalia was possibly in love with, but he was even more so after she confessed he was a muggle. "Oh?" That was not something easy. Franck's mother did run away with him when she found out for his father. "Does he know?" That would be a difficult thing to talk about, but necessary at one point. Then again, maybe not just yet. Still, Franck wanted to know more.

[LALIA KNIGHTLEY]

Lalia didn’t think that caffeine affected her too bad as she had gotten used to it over time but she always welcomed a cup of a warm drink. It was comforting and also warmed her entire body. She liked the sensation it gave her and also appeased her. Sure, coffee would give her the kick of the day she needed sometimes to wake up but it was still comforting to her. “I’ve gotten used to it over time, I find it rather comforting.” She admitted to him with a smile as she focused on the surrounding, trying to see if she still heard the music, which to her pleasure, she did and she let herself get embraced in it for a moment as she listened to Franck. “Now that would have made classes more interesting.” She agreed with a light laugh. Ah, the long lectures could be so boring, luckily she could write music on the side and pretend to be taking notes!

She smiled. “I am, it was odd at first, to be alone while you’re used to seeing other comrades in the common room but I adjusted myself and I’m not often home either.” Besides, when she was she often tended to be writing music or composing so she rarely felt the gap of loneliness unless she was longing for cuddles and romance which she was before she met Eoghan. “Not to add that I always have something to do with music and my guitar.” She said as her smile turned into a grin.

She shook her head, looking at her cup as he questioned her. “No not yet, I’m not sure how to bring it up honestly. I feel like I’m a liar.” Which she was, hiding Eoghan all this stuff but when would it be a good time? She had no clues. She was hoping Franck could help figure something out.

[FRANÇOIS LAFFONT]

Franck never thought about how badly caffeine could affect some people, but he supposed it all depended on how sensitive some were. And how strong that coffee was. He did taste some that had more of an impact than others. He did enjoy a coffee in the morning, but it was not the reason why he picked this job. It was just the kind of normal job students like him ended up with.

He laughed, thinking about Binns and their time in school. He did like history a bit, but their professor always skipped the interesting parts. And there were not enough French people for his taste. Then again, he supposed he should have studied at Beauxbâtons if he wanted to hear more about them. "You think he's still teaching?" Death did not stop him in the past, there was no reason for it not to now, but a lot had happened. Maybe the ghost finally decided to leave it to someone else. Ideally one that was still breathing.

"I know right," he said in a laugh. They were so used to sharing a room with four other people and now they were left by themselves. It was not easy. And Lalia had to pay everything by herself. It mustn't be easy all the time but with some luck, she learned about muggle currency or better yet got a wizard tenant. She did point out she was rarely home and could work on her music. He nodded. Music always had played such a big part in her life. "Studies for me, and that's quite enough for now." He wasn't against a romance, but he got hurt and humiliated himself too much. Not to add that he almost failed during his first year. For someoen studying psychology, he didn't do so well that first year. It was why he wanted to focus on school and be more careful around guys. He didn't want to repeat the fiasco again. He wouldn't be able to handle it.

Lalia was trying her luck with love though, and he was happy for her. But she was concerned about not telling him the truth. She had yet told him who he was, but all in due time. He frowned slightly as he thought about it. "How serious is it right now? If you are still testing waters and not sure how far it will go, you can wait until you know him better. It's if you plan to be more serious with him that it might be important to tell him. That's the kind of secret that could ruin a relationship." He was well placed to know. It was this 'secret' that had his mother run away and try so hard not to think her son could be like that too, until it proved to be the case by his father. And she didn't want to see either of them now. He preferred not to think about it.

[LALIA KNIGHTLEY]

Lalia had been wondering how Franck was doing with his new muggle lifestyle. She knew that he had been back to his routes and the transition was definitely better than the one she had to make since she knew very little about muggles at first. He seemed to have adapted well especially now that he had a job. She on the other hand, mostly ended up landing jobs in her field composing songs here and there whenever the occasion was given to her to do so. She didn’t think she would fit as much as Franck seemed to fit in there.

She smiled and shrugged, thinking that he might since he was one of the only people who would never leave his job, even dead! “I’m guessing they’re having a hard time replacing him, I mean, he’s working even after his death that ought to mean something!” She said with a light laugh as they talked of him. Of course, she made sure not to say that too loud in case someone heard their weird conversation about people working after death. Muggles could be so clueless at times!

“I agree.” She said to him as they talked of their own respective studies. “Besides, if you truly miss people you can always drop by.” She added. She doubted that he would end up face to face with Eoghan. He rarely came to her place as she had been discrete about it. His place was far more comfortable than hers, that was a certainty too.

She thought about what Franck said and nodded. “I’m still a bit insecure but I think it will go somewhere.” She said as she gazed down at her cup of coffee with a smile. “I haven’t felt that way in a long time, it feels nice. I just don’t know how to bring it up because I can’t imagine how much of a shock it might be to say. Hey by the way I’m a witch, surprise!” She said with a sigh.

[FRANÇOIS LAFFONT]

Franck had wished he could have been more independent already, that he could handle himself better in life, both in the muggle and the magical world. But the war added to his first year of school proved more than he could handle. He had a much stronger footing now, with his father back and living with him once again. It was a bit embarrassing, but he needed it. And to grow. He realised how much he didn't know about this world and life in general.

Lalia was in a similar situation, but she seemed to be doing fine. He was happy for her, for sure, but also wondered how she was not more overwhelmed by everything like he had been. They did not handle difficulties the same way, it seemed. But at least she was fine, and Franck chose to focus on that. The rest, well, it was for him to work on it, and envy wouldn't help in any way.

He laughed as they talked of their old teacher. "And he's the best at history since he's old enough to have lived it," he joked back. He dared not say he was a bad teacher, even if it was a common opinion amongst students. He didn't make history all that interesting. But students did not complain as much as one would expect. History was the kind of class most of them didn't care about. It didn't seem to matter much compared to spellcasting or potion making.

He smiled again at her invitation. "Same for you," he assured. True, he didn't live alone, but he didn't think his father would complain to his son bringing a friend home. As long as he didn't get idea. The man did accept his son's homosexuality, but perhaps he would end up hoping for a change seeing him with Lalia. Not that it would happen, with her apparently being in love with her teacher.

Were romances always so complicated? She didn't seem to be doing better than he was. "You remember how some students said one parent had no idea for the other until they got their letter? I guess it does imply lying throughout the whole relationship though, and constantly be on the lookout if you do magic in front of them. Unless you intend to drop it entirely. Then again, saying could be dangerous too..." he let out, thinking about his own parents. The reason his mother ran away from his father was because he was a wizard. It was also the reason why she let go of Franck and chose to deny to his own existence. It was so against her own belief that she needed to remove them completely from her mind. It still hurt Franck just to think about it. He sighed though, getting what she meant. He wouldn't know how to break the news either. "You think he could handle it? I guess in your case you'll also have to explain who you are..." Her veela blood might not have a lot of effect on Franck, at least not as much as for some others, but it was something else to bring. Did she fear he loved her only for that? He didn't need to know who she was for it to have an effect after all. And Franck wondered if muggles might be more easily affected than wizards.