Katarina Adele Foster. Was it wrong that I'd never known my girlfriends middle name until now? Am I supposed to know that sort of thing? To be honest I'd never even considered it, I suppose middle names were so rarely, if ever used and that I simply hadn't considered that. Maybe I should have. Maybe this is why I've never done the relationship thing before, I evidently miss vital information about my partner. The look of momentary curiosity I was sure I was wearing however lasted only so long as it took an entirely more surprised look to replace it at Kat's mention she had never been to Paris before. I was entirely sure she had. Although while maybe I would admit to not knowing my girlfriends middle name I am not nearly so much a failure in my relationship to know not to question her lie here and now in front of Elena. Why she lied I hardly know, though for now I was careful to return my features into something more neutral- until Etienne managed to throw his arms around her like he'd known her his entire life. He'd always been...affectionate, to say the least, one of those truly personable people. Maybe that was why we got on, one of the few other men whom seemed to tolerate my presence if only by way of his easy-going nature and outwardly friendly demeanour. Etienne...simply didn't care what anyone thought about anything and seemed to be on a personal crusade to befriend the world. The stiffness in Kat was hardly missed though, maybe I've just known her long enough to know she isn't entirely comfortable being hugged by someone she barely knows- then again maybe she just does not like hugs all that much.

Evidently today was to be a day of surprises all around. I always knew Kat liked cars, or at least- she showed some sort of interest in them, about as much as any woman surely ever has in an effort to appease their male companion and yet where the flood of information came from I hardly know- eyes widening once more in surprise as she proceed to explain the finer vehicles of the car we'd been handed the keys too. I'm not entirely sure I could have liked her more in that moment, the words very near purred from her lips as we headed for the car, Etienne seeming equally as thrilled to have his gesture appreciated while Elena looked on the verge of trying to stop me getting into the 'speeding death trap' as she had so often referred to any sports car as in my youth. My attention however, was wholly fixated upon Kat.

"Ceremic piston brake system may be close to the sexiest thing I have ever heard you say. Do you only know about this car or do you know about all cars? Because if you know about all cars there are conversations I feel like we could have had that would have been rather exceptional on the topic."

I managed a grin all the same before sliding into the passengers seat, scowling slightly at being, well, not the driver- I can't remember the last time I didn't drive myself somewhere, the view from this position distinctly less enjoyable although for now at least I was willing to allow Kat to appreciate the car. Her effort to put on her seatbelt was at least appreciated, the blue gold of my gaze resting smoothly upon her form as she easily steered the car out and onto the street. Fine- maybe she can drive, not nearly as good as I can but that is merely one of my own talents, at least she seemed to be appreciating the vehicle for what it was- her comment earning her a lopsided simper all the same as I folded my arms behind my head with all the ease of a jungle cat atop a favoured branch. Not that I like cats all that much really. They don't seem that hygienic. Direct her if I can?

"I'm sorry is that a challenge?"

One eye lifted slightly, a smooth chuckle humming within my chest as I further reclined, determined to at least enjoy the drive as much as possible without being in control of it. Giving up control, after all, is not entirely my strong point in any regards. Her final words earning an eye roll somewhere beneath the dark gold of my hair. Too good to her sometimes was I?

"Oh don't worry, you can be good to me later. I lived here for over a year- I know quite a few things that are distinctly French."

She could take whatever she wanted from that sentence, lip quirking slightly upward a final time as we headed into the heart of the city itself, the Eiffel tower visible even from here. Maybe it was supposed to be iconic but I really never had found a giant steel tower shaped like a point to be entirely romantic- at best it's full of tourists harbouring bacteria from every corner of the world, my features scowling slightly once more at the thought.

"Left here."

I gestured to the next street along, rather assuming she actually was going to turn as directed despite her threat from earlier. Maybe I did live here for a year but it's been several since I've been back and I am entirely capable of getting lost- Etienne would never let me live that down if he had to come and find us.

"Why did you tell Elena you haven't been here before?"

I was simply curious, really, hardly minding what she desired to tell my surrogate mother of sorts- Elena was inclined to dismiss most things anyone said all the same. Don't get me wrong, I held some...affection for her in a way but I was more then aware of her rather overbearing personality.

"Right at this intersection, watch out for cyclists here, the French have a lacking respect for road rules and priceless sports cars, if we bring this back with a bicycle embedded in it, Ten might have a fit and I will have to buy him a new one and I am entirely assured he would up the price he paid for this. I never knew your middle name either. Adele. That's nice- very feminine, was it your grandmothers name or something like that?"

Well, isn't that usually how you got middle names? Some long lost relative your parents felt morally obligated to honour for one reason or another? As for not knowing her middle name, well, that was hardly my fault I am sure, my words designed to make up for this lack of knowledge by seeking to expand upon it now. Personal details, when it came to Kat after all- were few and far between. Not that I truly minded I suppose, neither of us truly inclined to talk about childhood.

"Mine's Aiden, just for your reference although I have no belief you don't know that already. My parents got into an argument over what my name should be, my Father wanted Aiden, my Mother wanted Colton of all things, my Father thought that was far to modern, my Mother thought Aiden was far too old and the eventually settled on Cole with a C and E because my Father believed it to be a solid name. My mother, spite him further however, went to the registry office herself and registered my name with a K and an H because they were trends at the time. Thusly I was name purely for spite and my Father, up until he died, continued to spell my name with a C and an E."

It had bothered me, once, though now I simply found amusement in it even despite the truth it revelled about my parent's relationship with each other and with myself. Kat new the truth of it though, just as I had done since I was old enough to understand. Some people simply never should have had children.

"I also find I am required to know your favourite colour, your favourite animal and your favourite food because traditionally these seem to be things I should know about my girlfriend and when Etienne asks me, as he will later, I can make quite the display of knowing them."

They were trivial things, small things that really meant very little to either of us in the end and yet- well, they were the sort of things I was entirely assured I should know, I suppose. Even if I wasn't sure why.

"We've also never had sex in a car- I think we should make that a priority, just saying. Because watching you drive this machine is sending my thoughts into a chaotic meltdown with how entirely appealing you are while doing it."

It was said with near perfect calm as if it was an entirely normal thing to mention so suddenly, the amusement in my gaze however hardly so well concealed, the tease in my words surely evident as I gestured to the left once more.

"Left here."




k o h l
so you want to play with magic?