Jean Wolfe
September 28, 2020 12:25 AM
Unconditional (tag Killian) by Jean Wolfe
The sun was slanting in lopsidedly through the windows. Even though summer was creeping up, this was about the best it managed most days, and even that much seemed not to be guaranteed even at this time of year. Strange Irish weather. Speaking of strange Irish things, Jean-Loup was on his way to visit another one – one he liked a good deal better than the upside down and back-to-front and almost-always-raining weather.He made his way to Killian’s office, a spring in his step and a broad smile on his face. Those sights had become more and more common as the term went on, although this time he was having to hold back not to engage in full bouncing puppy mode. That excitement was probably palpable, it was only just contained, and his energy was going to be obvious to someone who knew him well. That mood was rarer. It was his running energy, ready to go out and hit the gardens, or being pumped from having just done so. It was his job-well-done energy, which Katey occasionally saw, but which had been most prevalent at Bonabelle’s birthday party. He supposed this fell into the latter? Though it felt more like its own, separate thing. And Killian was going to be the second one he told, seeing as he was his second favourite person here. Maybe anywhere.
He knocked on the office door, and once he was inside, greeted Killian with a hug. A friendly, bouncy, bro hug, and one that wasn’t any less enthusiastic or affectionate for the fact that it was very definitely a hug and not a snuggle. Again, this was becoming more normal, but it was usually still reserved for special occasions.
“Hey there, Fish Eggs,” he grinned. And whilst, as a future healer, he should have been very mindful about such matters, his smile and his cheerfulness were probably infectious. He refrained from bouncing, just barely. He refrained from giving Killian a second hug, pretty sure he would get one of those in a minute. He settled for grinning from ear to ear instead, even if he planned to play his cards a little more slowly that just blurting it out and leaping all over his friend. He was pretty sure he was doing a bad job of pretending there was nothing going on but there were limits to his powers.
“You ever go to Canada?” he asked, grinning lopsidedly at Killian.
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Jean Wolfe
Unconditional (tag Killian)
1506
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5
Killian Row
September 30, 2020 12:53 PM
Love? by Killian Row
It was the perfect day to nap. Most days were the perfect day to nap, Killian supposed, but especially days when he was technically supposed to be working and didn't actually have any work to do. Well . . . didn't have much work to do. He'd even cleared a little space on his desk so that he could lean forward on his arms and snooze for a while without the risk of drooling on any papers. He was awoken by the sound of a knock on his door and he promptly sat up and told the person to come in, quickly wiping his face to make sure he hadn't drooled anywhere else either. Of course, there was a good chance his hair was sticking up funny and his eyes were sleepy looking and his face was smushed up, but he thought maybe he looked super hot so it was fine. In any case, he was clearly happy to see Jean-Loup come in (and less interested in looking super hot when he saw it wasn't-- well, when he saw who it was), and greeted the young man with a hug. It was clear Jean-Loup was excited about something and the feeling was contiguous enough that Killian almost felt bubbly too."Hey," he smiled. "Arson? Arsonists are people who set fire to things they shouldn't set fire to." He wrinkled his nose. "I don't think I have anything good for your name," he decided with a smirk.
Jean-Loup's question was clearly getting at something but Killian's first thought was literal and he blushed a little. "Once," he admitted. "I went out once or twice with a hockey player." He grinned fondly and proudly before shaking his head. "That's not what you're asking. What's going on?"
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Killian Row
Love?
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Jean Wolfe
September 30, 2020 5:20 PM
Acceptance by Jean Wolfe
"Working too hard?" Jean-Loup asked when he was greeted by a Killian who looked like he had been up too late the previous night, and who had an ink smear on his cheek. "You know, writing is with hands," he teased, reaching out to poke the smear.He tilted his head curiously as Killian rambled about fire, but a smirk spread across his face as he realised what the guidance counselor was getting at.
"Ah yes," he said, with a sigh that did not match his facial expression, "There are no obvious jokes with my name," he enjoyed the upperhand for just a moment before deciding he could probably take the world of trouble that came from letting Killian in on this bit of information. "In English," he added. "Loup is wolf in French. School had many, many jokes."
The answer he got was not the one he expected. Hockey was less prevelant in magical culture but prevelant enough in Canadian culture that he had a passing familiarity. And sports players were generally of a type.
"Nice," he grinned, imagining for a moment what someone as well muscled as he was might be like to...snuggle.
"Well," he smiled, when asked what was going on, "Hope this experience means you are not... banished from Vancouver?" he asked, pulling a very thick, official-looking letter from his pocket. The seal was already broken, and he held it out for Killian's inspection.
The top of the letter bore a crest on which an oar, a rose and wand spread out over a shield, a symbol of the city's port status, along with its official flower, and a nod to which population this particular institution was for. On either side of this was 'Univeristy of Vancouver - Faculty of Healing Arts and Magi-Veterinary Studies/Université de Vancouver - Faculté des Arts de la Guérison et des Etudes Magi-Vétérinaires.'
Following this was a bilingual letter, stating Jean-Loup's unconditional accpetance, with full funding for tuition fees.
"So, you can file me in successes," he grinned, "And you will come and visit?" he asked, his voice cracking just a tiny bit.
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Jean Wolfe
Acceptance
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Killian Row
October 01, 2020 9:53 PM
From yourself, for yourself. by Killian Row
"Oh, rarely," Killian smirked, aiming for a theatrical yawn which unfortunately turned into the real deal. He turned his head and pressed it into his arm to stifle it before turning back to Jean-Loup with a goofy smile. When he got some intel on Jean-Loup's name, his expression turned into a proper grin. "That's because you're such a good boy," he decided with a definitive nod. "John Dog," he decided, watching his young friend's face for some response to that.Killian chuckled at the enthusiasm with which Jean-Loup approved his choice of people to date. "She was fierce," he agreed. "Lots of fun. It didn't last long but she got me . . . acquainted with most of her team. And that was nice." He grinned again, his expression making it clear exactly what he meant.
He raised an eyebrow, not saying anything as he took the heavy envelope from Jean-Loup's hand. It looked fancy and official and--
"MERLIN'S MANKY BOLLOCKS, YOU GOT ACCEPTED!" he yelped, practically jumping at Jean-Loup as he grabbed him by the shoulders, trying not to shake the lad, and then wrapped him in a hug. He was still nearly jumping and had to consciously not hoist him around the room. "I'm so proud of you and so excited for you, mate!" he said as he pulled away, the hand opposite the letter remaining on Jean-Loup's shoulder as he re-read the note. Well, re-read the part that was in English. "I'll come visit as often as you want me," he grinned, taking in Jean-Loup's face with a proud glance before turning and waving his wand at one of the sets of filing cabinets in his room. In the first drawer, under A of course, was a green folder (all the staff and other residents for whom he had files were green, while students were color-coded by House). It floated across the room to him at the command of another wave and the drawer shut as he caught it.
Flipping it open and flicking through various papers, pamphlets, applications, interview questions, and notes, Killian went to the very first document ever included in the folder. Well, the second; the first was an intake form of sorts that was stuff like demographics. He recognized his own handwriting on the document, both in the date at the top which marked it as having been the same day they had made met in Tumbleweed and in the notes he'd written to himself underneath it. He passed it to Jean-Loup to read, a soft smile on his face.
Jean-Loup Arcenaux and I met today, but I think I have only met part of him. He was anxious and perhaps a bit pessimistic, but he was asking for help and that says a lot about a man. I see great potential in Mr. Arcenaux and I look forward to getting to know the rest of him; if his skill is half as great as his willingness to survive, then he will go far. I intend to help him set up an internship at Sonora for the coming school year and I think he will make a great addition to the school. Mr. Arcenaux is bright, thoughtful, considerate, and detail-oriented, as well as possessing a great deal of composure and self-regulation. If my instincts are correct, and they nearly always are, Mr. Arcenaux has the makings not only a great healer, but a great man.
"You have always been filed under successes, my friend," Killian said when Jean-Loup looked up again.
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Killian Row
From yourself, for yourself.
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Jean Wolfe
October 02, 2020 7:04 AM
We'll work on that bit by Jean Wolfe
Jean-Loup's ears pricked up and his tail wagged in response to being called a good boy. Or at least it showed in his eyes. He also grinned at being given a nickname. He was possibly going to be in need of something new to call himself, but he didn't want to bring that up right now."She? Girl hockey player?" he questioned incredulously, "I retract my comment," he teased. Killian certainly seemed like he had no regrets. And like he hadn't stopped at just one hockey player. Jean-Loup still wasn't entirely sure how to react to some of Killian's tales. What exactly did you say about having fun with a hockey team, especially in the moderately distant past? "Whatever makes you happy," he tried, half surveying the floor, half checking Killian's face for signs as to whether that was the right reaction. It was interesting to think about sharing that sort of information with someone but he was keen not to stray into being crass, and was still working out how to tread that line.
They were on more solid ground as Killian read his letter and spouted something nonsensical but which Jean-Loup suspected meant he was pleased. And he was hugging him. Jean-Loup hugged him back, giving into the impulse that Killian seemed to be barely repressing to jump as well as hug.
"Yes! I got it! I got it!" he chanted, taking a moment to just enjoy that victory.
And Killian was proud, and excited, and would still be part of his life. He was glad that Killian turned to the filing cabinet because he needed a moment to make himself okay with hearing exactly what he wanted to hear an adult in his life say to him. Though was he literally going to file him? And right now? Nerd Jean-Loup rolled his definitely not slightly damp eyes at Killian's back.
He looked quizzical as Killian placed a long note in front of him. Was his celebration for getting into university a piece of reading comprehension? But it only took the first sentence to make him realise what it was (though not why), not that that made it any easier to read. Literally, there was English and handwriting, and then also this was a real personal take on him. Even if Killian quickly turned professional, he had sized him up, and got it pretty painfully accurate. He felt his neck burning, both from seeing himself (the good and the bad) through someone else's eyes and also from slight self-consciousness over how long he was taking to decode the brief document.
He looked up when he was done still quizzical as to why Killian had shown him this now, and found himself having to look sharply back down when the giuidance counselor explained himself.
He had always been a success?
"With you," he emphasised an important part of that equation when he eventually found his voice. He hovered on the verge of saying more but found that his voice kept wanting to wobble over any of the other things he was thinking. "You will make me have emotions," he warned.
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Jean Wolfe
We'll work on that bit
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Killian Row
October 02, 2020 4:38 PM
Good. by Killian Row
Killian smirked, not terribly surprised by Jean-Loup's reaction, although he was sort of proud of him for it. It was nice to see someone own their sexual orientation and Jean-Loup doing that felt ones important. He wasn't sure he could say exactly that being with the people he'd been with made him happy, but it had done in the moment and that was good enough sometimes. In truth, he was more than a little jealous of Jean-Loup. To have a loving relationship was special, whether or not those things lasted. He didn't necessarily think that Jean-Loup and Dorian wouldn't work out, but he also recognized that they were young and it was okay if they didn't, too. Not that he was about to say that. When he'd been with-- well, he understood well that other people's opinions were rarely helpful when the subject was your own relationship.He tried not to watch Jean-Loup too closely when he read the letter because he thought that it probably was very hard to read something in a language you were not quite fluent in, especially when it was handwriting, and especially when someone was staring at you. Still, it was a testament to Jean-Loup's improving proficiency - or to Killian's patience - that it didn't seem like that long before he was done.
When Jean-Loup did respond, Killian shook his head. "No," he said thoughtfully. "I think your success is about to be measured on the world stage. You matter and you are successful when you leave this room, too. You are smart and brave and kind and funny and you have a lot to offer." He took a shuddering breath, surprised by the fact that he was tearing up as well. It was ridiculous because he was going to see Jean-Loup again, but he was just . . . it was so good. "I'm so bloody proud of you," he said without really trying to pretend he wasn't misty. He did laugh at Jean-Loup's comment though. "Emotions are alright sometimes," he chuckled. "Especially in the guidance counselor's office. People cry in here a lot," he said, surprised at his urge to giggle.
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Killian Row
Good.
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Jean Wolfe
October 02, 2020 5:01 PM
You'll help by Jean Wolfe
"I think you are not that type of counselor?" he teased, when Killian said that people often cried in here. The lump in his throat had grown as Killian spoke about him. It seemed a little daunting trying to prove that he mattered to people other than Killian and Dorian. But they had both promised that the whole world wasn't like what he had grown up with. He was looking forward to the challenge amd the adventure.For now, he had another one in front of him. After all, it seemed only fair that he opened up to Killian in return...
"I definitely want that you visit," he started with the easy part. "It gets difficult to imagine not just be able to come and see you. Already," he stated. Even though they'd only had a year - a school year, even, Killian had become so woven into the fabric of his life.
And part of him still wasn't sure how to say that. People said 'I'll miss you' of course but he actually meant it. He didn't know whether you were supposed to use different words when you actually meant it. But 'I can't imagine not seeing you every day' sounded kind of intense, and more like the sort of thing he would say to Dorian, and he was pretty sure that his feelings for Killian weren't those kinds of feelings but it still hurt his heart to think about being apart from him, and he wanted to express that but not sound like he was saying something else. It wasn't like Killian hadn't just shown him how it was done... That guys could talk about their feelings and cry together and that that was allowed.
He glanced back down at the paper.
"It started with you though. Even though I am sure you will say 'no, no, it is you - you did this' but you are the first one to believe in me. Thank you. And you do so much and then..." then he had stopped being the guidance guy and become the guy who ran with him even though he couldn't run, and played up not eating his veggies, and was a buttmunch. "I think that right now, you are my best friend. And I don't want you to go away, even if I have to. And...and is that okay?" he asked tearfully, ready to dive in for the third hug in the space of five minutes.
There was Bonabelle too. She had called him 'alright for a grown up' and that was high praise which he needed to live up to. But right now, it was about him and Killian.
"You're special," he told Killian, aware it was probably clumsy amd weird and all wrong, but it was still true.
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Jean Wolfe
You'll help
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