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Courfeyrac smiled. "Blinding is the word for it. Although he really doesn't smile often enough." He chuckled. "It's definitely unconventional here, but I like it. It's very different to anything I've ever had before."

He took a swig out of the wine bottle and wordlessly offered it to Feuilly. "Yep, we're both students at Columbia. What about you? What do you do?"

He chuckled lightly before giving a small nod. “He looks the type to have a blinding smile. And yeah that’s me” It was nice to get to meet Courfeyrac properly, the guy seemed pretty easy going.

"Well that’s good to hear! I can imagine though…. This place isn’t exactly the uh… conventional? Typical living complex? But the rent’s almost non-existent and the people are pretty awesome I’ll agree." Grinning playfully, he stepped further into the room to sit down comfortably on the man’s bed. "Not rude at all, but thanks!" After a moment of peering around the room - too curious for his own good-, he glanced back. "Sooo, am I right in guessing you and Enjolras are students? You got that student vibe going on"

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Courfeyrac smiled widely. "Hmm, I agree. Looks like I'll be the one in your lap, then." He wasn't sure Combeferre's face could get much redder, but he loved the blush covering his face.

His smile turned sweeter. "I'd really like that. That sounds pretty great, actually." He bit his lip, a little surprised by how drawn to Combeferre he felt. Courfeyrac was the type to fall often and fall hard, but something about Combeferre...There was definitely something there, but it felt stronger than just a physical attraction. He cleared his throat. "So, I should probably get our of your hair. I'm sure your boss wouldn't like me monopolizing his worker."

A Forest of Words | [open]

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Courfeyrac rubbed Enjolras' back soothingly. "Be the bigger person in this situation, Jules. Apologize. Make it right."

He sighed. "We're privileged, Jules. Our parents are different than his. Not everyone is as lucky as we are. And did you maybe stop to think that maybe he's just blowing smoke? That he's actually scared of the draft but didn't want to let you know that?"

"I know you were. You're passionate. You care. But sometimes..." He sighed again. "Sometimes it doesn't always come off that way."

Things We Said Today

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Courfeyrac grinned flirtatiously. "No, I think you'd have my attention without crawling into my lap. But you're welcome to crawl into my lap, regardless." Flirting with this guy was probably a terrible idea, but Courfeyrac couldn't help himself.

"I'd like that a lot, actually. A mutual exploring of the city." He smiled. "There's so much on offer, I want to take advantage of as much as I can, you know?" He shook his head. "Especially with everything going on in the world. Our lives could change so quickly, it makes sense to get as much living in as you can now."

A Forest of Words | [open]

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Courfeyrac grinned. "Yep, that's me. And yes, the grumpy blond is Enjolras. Though he's really not bad once you get to know him. You're Feuilly, yeah?" he asked. He hadn't had much of a chance to interact with Feuilly yet. Their schedules, it seemed, hadn't seemed to match up well.

"I'm settling in well, thanks. It's a bit of an adjustment, going from home to here, but I'm loving it so far. Everyone in this house is just great. Good people, you know? They can really make or break a situation." He smiled. "Sorry, I'm being rude. Want to sit down?" He gestured to his bed.

The taxi shift was shorter today than usual, not that he was complaining much. It gave him a chance to catch up with friends, even get an early night if he wasn’t distracted by the music and alcohol that often filled the Musain in the evenings. Slinging off his jacket, he stretched until he felt the cracks up his spine. Sitting in a cab for hours did hell on his back, but it was good money. Traipsing up the stairs to where everyone’s rooms where, Feuilly paused, Most of the place was silent, as he’d expect around this time, but there was a little rustling noise from one of the nearby rooms. Curiously he headed towards it, smiling as he recognised one of the new guys.

Leaning against the door frame he wiggled his fingers in a friendly wave. “Not much, thought I’d say hello to our newest house mates. Courfeyrac right? You came with the grumpy blonde… Enjolras” It took him a couple seconds to remember the names, pleased that he did. “How’re you settling in?”

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Courfeyrac grinned. "No, it's as bad as that. One time, I was reading and my little sister just jumped on me to get my attention. It's pretty bad." His grinned softened at the smile on Combeferre's face. Courfeyrac was a flirt, he knew that. But something about this guy...Courfeyrac felt himself very drawn to this new friend.

"Well then, you're going to see a lot of me. This store is great. It's got a good vibe here. I like it." He leaned on the counter. "It's a pretty great city. It's a lot to take in, though. There's so much to see and do around here. I love it, personally. I guess it's not for everyone, though."

A Forest of Words | [open]

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After his fruitful trip to the bookstore, Courfeyrac headed home, eager to start reading. He wanted to start with On The Road, mostly because he was interested in where conversations about it with Combeferre might lead. He knew he was getting ahead of himself, but that was his nature. He could have his whole future planned out with someone five minutes after he met them. 

He took the armful of books up to his room, where he started a record playing quietly, and grabbed a bottle of boone's farm he had stashed a couple days ago. He took a long swig out of the bottle, sat down on his bed, and began to read.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been lying there reading, but the shadows in the room were longer, and over half the bottle of wine was gone. He glanced up when he heard footsteps approaching. 

"Well, hello there." He grinned. "What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

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Courfeyrac sighed and sunk down onto the floor next to Enjolras. "Oh, Jules..." He pulled his friend in for a hug. "No, you do not come off as horrible at all. I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding." He sighed. 

"After you've both cooled down some, maybe you should try apologizing to him? I'm sure you both said some things you didn't mean. Since you have to live with each other, clearing this up is probably for the best."

He smiled reassuringly. "You're a good person, E. You just take a little getting used to, is all."

Things We Said Today

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Courfeyrac grinned. "Sometimes people have to physically shake me to get my attention if I'm reading. If I'm into a book, then I'm into it and nothing is going to drag me away from it. So I understand where you're coming from."

He chuckled. "Well, I hope you realize you've created a monster, because I'll be here to bother you a lot, then." He smiled brightly. "Sure! I'd love to know what you've figured out about the city already. As well as let you pick my brain." The grin widened at Combeferre's blush. He barely knew the man, yet he loved the abashed look on his face whenever he blushed. 

A Forest of Words | [open]

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"Hey, sometimes you just get too involved in a book to realize what's going on around you." He shrugged. "It happens to the best of us. But I will talk your ear off, if you don't stop me. Enjolras, that's my friend, he'll do the same thing."

He laughed again. "Don't tell me that, or I'll be in here all the time hassling you. I'm still trying to learn the city. Apart from my roommates, I don't know many people here yet. I love it though, so far. The environment here is just everything I hoped it would be."

A Forest of Words | [open]

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Courfeyrac stood there, waiting, slightly confused as Combeferre left. He took the book and grinned. "Yeah, I'd like that." He laughed. "It's alright, I can ramble and rant with the best of them. If you get me going on the right subject, I can talk for hours. My best friend is the same way. He's a very passionate person."

"So, does the offer of lunch come with a phone number? Or should I just come back here once I've finished the book looking like a lost puppy, hoping to find you again?" He smiled flirtatiously, hoping he wasn't interpreting the situation incorrectly. 

A Forest of Words | [open]

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Courfeyrac had had just about all he could take of classes that day. He eyed the clock, as he waited for his last class of the day to end. He was loving college so far, and this class in particular, but today he just needed a break. 

When it was finally time for class to be done and the teacher had dismissed them, Courfeyrac hastily threw his things in his bag and left the classroom. 

He glanced down and was surprised to see his best friend sitting there. "Enjolras?" he asked. "What's up? Is everything okay?"

Things We Said Today

Enjolras had trudged back down the street with his hands stuffed in his pockets and a harsh, unhappy glower etched across his face. He wasn’t going anywhere in particular but he needed that.

He needed the city to distract him. He needed the sights and sounds of vendor, of loud tourists, of vehicles humming and honking to sooth the turmoil of his mind. The walking helped. The fresh air was soothing.

But it wasn’t enough.

He found himself standing outside Columbia University’s main campus where he knew Courfeyrac was currently taking a class.

Talking to his best friend would fix everything. He entered the building and asked at the desk which room to go to and upon finding it plopped himself down on the ground outside the door looking sullen and absolutely miserable. 

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Courfeyrac frowned. He could tell there was more than what Combeferre was saying, but he didn't want to pry. Although, the other man did seem upset, which Courfeyrac did not like. Before he realized what he was doing, he reached across the counter to grasp Combeferre's wrist. He looked down and quickly pulled his hand away. "Sorry, I...sorry. You seem very upset, and I just..." He cleared his throat, feeling slightly awkward. "Nevermind."

He smiled brightly, trying to dispel the awkwardness. "Well, only time will tell on the crazy." He still wanted to reach across the counter to comfort Combeferre, so he stuck his hands in his back pockets to keep them away. Random strangers do not want affection, he reminded himself. "I haven't read On the Road. I've heard of it, though. It's supposed to be pretty good."

A Forest of Words | [open]

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Courfeyrac smiled. "Yep, it's just me. I love my sisters, though. Wouldn't trade them for anything. I miss them, even though I haven't been gone that long." He chuckled, amused by the other man's persistence. "Well, if you really want to hear them, I guess I can let you. Since you asked."

"I don't know, sometimes I look at my life choices and think I must be at least a little bit crazy." He shook his head, grinning. "I've not always been known for making the smartest decisions." Like flirting with a random stranger in a bookshop, when you have no idea if he even likes men, Courfeyrac thought. 

A Forest of Words | [open]

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Courfeyrac smiled. "Not prying at all. I have three younger sisters." He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know about great, but they certainly kept my sisters entertained. I guess that's what matters."

He smirked slightly, seeing the other man get flustered. He liked Combeferre, liked his kindness and his earnestness. Courfeyrac also liked the flush covering his face. "I've read Howl. Someone borrowed my copy and never gave it back, though, so I needed a new one. I really enjoyed it." He laughed. "I just confessed to doing funny voices, and you're saying you're the crazy one?"

A Forest of Words | [open]

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"It's a great story," Courfeyrac smiled. "I used to read to my sisters, too. They made me do different voices for each character. It was ridiculous, but they ate it up." He bit his lip and looked down. "I miss them."

"Well, luckily, I'm quite adept at dealing with mouthfuls." Courfeyrac grinned. "It's uh, a bit of an eclectic collection. Autiobiography of Malcolm X, Howl, and a James Bond novel I haven't read yet." He shrugged. "I have strange tastes."

A Forest of Words | [open]

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Courfeyrac frowned slightly. Something was clearly bothering the other man, but Courfeyrac didn't know what. And judging by the other man's reaction, he didn't want to talk about it. Courfeyrac smiled, ignoring the other man's discomfort. 

"Lord of the Rings. Tolkien." He grinned. "I love that series. Is this your first time reading it?" 

"I'm just teasing, you weren't ignoring me." He chuckled and shook the other man's hand. "Adrien. But everyone calls me Courfeyrac. It's nice to meet you, Combeferre."

A Forest of Words | [open]