"I haven't the slightest interest in fairs."

[Basil Benson]

(Before their arrival)

Basil and Colette walked to the funfair together, Basil having himself a cigarette. He'd been wondering how to broach a potentially bad topic. He didn't think he could wait much longer and still give her enough time to decide.

"Madame." He started, pausing for a moment, considering abandoning the topic briefly.

"I talked to Headmistress Minamida. She isn't inclined to institute family or co-ed housing."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette looked a little disappointed at the bad news. "So, zis means zat you would no longer be permitted to live on ze campus once you graduate, yes?"

[Basil Benson]

"She made it sound as if I could still live on campus, but we would have to remain as we are now for the next two to four years."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"MMm, zat is less zan ideal. I do not like having to schedule our time togezer around our roommates."

[Basil Benson]

Basil did not comment his opinion as not to colour her own.

"Tell me what you want to happen, and I'll make it so."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette let out a little sigh. "I know it is sudden, but... I would like for us to have our own space, togezer. Some place wiz a kitchen, and wizin walking distance of some shops or ze campus, or at ze very least a short commute. And your job, of course. But zat is a lot to ask for.

"After graduation, do you intend to go back home, or move in wiz your grandparents?"

[Basil Benson]

"I intend to go where you go.

You would not be welcome to stay there so as far as I am concerned neither am I."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"I hope zat zey change their mind, in time. I know what it is like to be disowned by ones grandparents, I would not wish zat upon you as well."

[Basil Benson]

"It would have happened anyways, unless I either married Adele Abramowitz or magically stumbled across an orthodox Jew who also happened to be a mutant. And either would have ended in divorce when they realized I'm a freak."

Basil replied, attempting to sweep it under the rug.

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Matou, what have I said about talking about yourself that way?"

[Basil Benson]

Basil's shades tilted askew, a sign that the boy was looking at her side long.

"I... don't know." Basil replied earnestly in English. He couldn't remember a time when they'd discussed the topic so openly, though he could gather easily enough what she might.

"Please, tell me."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"I do not like it when you call yourself a freak. I do not mind self-deprecating humour, but I feel that referring to yourself with that term only does you harm. I do not like hearing any mutant being called that term, especially not someone I care so much about."

Colette paused for a moment, thinking it over.

"I am your queen, am I not? And as such, I am deserving of only the best, is that not true? Then what does it say about me when the one whom is most special to me considers themselves so deeply flawed, as the term implies?"

[Basil Benson]

"Ahhh, yes... of course Madame. Now I remember. My apologies for forgetting...

However...." Basil turned visible, and was wearing the salicious smirk Colette had come to associate with his naughty thoughts.

"Je veux dire sexuellement."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette's serious expression turned to flushed cheeks followed by a little giggling fit. "Oh Baseel, I am so sorry. And here I was being super serious."

[Basil Benson]

"Quite alright Madame, you have a vested interest in my well being.

However, now that we're on the same page..." He paused to switch languages again.

"If you have anything else to say on the matter, I'm still listening."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette had a closed-mouth grin, giving Basil a look. "Later. Ozerwise we may never reach ze carnival."

[Basil Benson]

Basil's face relaxed into a warm smile, the boy letting it go.

For now.

"Soooo, then.

A little love nest just for us, with a nice kitchen and walking distance to the action, either academic or entertainment.

Anything else?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette had pretty simple tastes, and a lot of the things people usually looked for in a home didn't appeal to her. She didn't want a bath or shower, so multiple bathrooms weren't an issue - Basil could make it pretty much his domain if he so chose. And it was still far too early to consider any reasons they'd need more than one bedroom, which was unlikely anyway given their earlier discussions.

"A fireplace would be nice, even if it is electric. Ooh, perhaps a place for your auto?"

[Basil Benson]

"Alright... how do you feel about gardens? Do you prefer something to tend, or do you prefer stone?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

"I... really do not know. I enjoyed spending time in ze country when I was a little girl, but I have never had a desire to tend to plants."

[Basil Benson]

Basil nodded, committing the information to memory.

"Alright then Madame. As you wish."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette looked up at Basil with a little smile. "I am sorry if my requests are a little underwhelming." It could be said that Colette placed a higher value on experiences than material possessions, or maybe she'd just gotten accustomed to doing without.

Or maybe she could fathom how incredibly expensive a flat in such a prime location would be.

[Basil Benson]

"Mmmyes. How dare you have realistic expectations.

Where's the indoor stables? The slide stair case? What about the naughty room full of perverted things we need to hide from our vanilla friends and family?

Oh whoops, the last one's my unreasonable request."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Oh do not be silly. A storage ottoman will suffice."

[Basil Benson]

"You can't lock an Ottoman."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Zat is what makes it so zrilling."

[Basil Benson]

"You're a little exhibitionist, aren't you?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette grinned. "What, I cannot turn one of your jokes around on you?"

[Basil Benson]

"Mmmmhmmm." He watched her side long, half his cigarette hanging from his lips between his own sly smirk.

"Telling people about our little games, associating with exotic dancers, poorly hiding our love tools...

Sounds an awful lot like you're wanting to be seen."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"I zink zat you are guilty of ze same actions, monsieur Benson."

[Basil Benson]

"Only two out of three." He laughed. "And the first only after you started hinting.

How's Jezabelle, by the way?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

"She is... very enthusiastic." Colette paused. "About her lessons, I mean. She has much catching up to do and I must confess zat I am not ze best tutor. But she has obtained some sort of... language lesson application on her tablet, and I have found zat I am able to assist her more successfully now zat I am helping her wiz zat razer zan trying to create lessons myself."

[Basil Benson]

"Good.

Though admittedly I was more curious about if she mentioned anything about the dinner date.

Did she catch on?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

"She was... distant about zat. She said zat ze food was very good but I do not zink zat zey had a good time."

Colette tilted her head a little bit at Basil's question. "Well I do not zink Jezabelle told her, as far as I am aware Katarina has had no reason to suspect anyzing."

[Basil Benson]

Basil winced a bit.

"Maybe it just couldn't be helped. Perhaps the cultural gap is too wide." He speculated, ending his cigarette and putting it out under foot, then collecting the butt with his handkerchief.

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Perhaps..." Colette considered. "I do not mean to gossip, but perhaps you have a unique perspective on ze matter. Do you remember how intent she was about learning to cook, before she relented and allowed me to prepare it?"

[Basil Benson]

Basil furrowed his brow, confused about where the question was going but responding anyways.

"Yes. Why?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Well, apparently she wanted to learn zis because she believed zat all 'normal' people know how to cook. Jezabelle found ze notion of being considered normal razer funny, but apparently Katarina was upset by her laughter."

[Basil Benson]

Basil's face went from confusion to recognition.

"I see...

I'll see if there's something I can do for her. For now, let's focus on the fair, eh?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Zat would be very kind of you." Colette gave Basil an approving smile, hugging his arm a little tighter. "Yes, I cannot wait to have some barbe à papa."