#interactions; felix and chloe 002

[manybcdthings]

tuscany

felix ranstrom and chloe belcourt @gloriouswhispers

The piano bar was nestled in a cobblestone alley, the small and intimate setting seemed the perfect way to wind down the week in Italy. Slipping outside for a cigarette, Felix sought a few moments to himself. The evening air was crisp but silent and a welcome contrast to the chatter within. But the quiet didn't last for long, as he lit his cigarette, a crescendo from the piano signaled the door opening. Felix glanced over, catching sight of Chloe as she stepped into the night. Since the poolside fiasco with Ines, he'd made it his personal mission to exist on the opposite end of any room from her. Chloe seemed to have adopted a similar strategy, staking her claim on the other side of the doorway.

Felix didn't utter a word to the Belcourt, fixing his attention elsewhere while hoping she wouldn't break the silence. But, moments later, they were both interrupted by the rhythmic panting and soft patter of paws against stone. A wiry-haired dog bounded into view, tail wagging like a metronome to the muffled piano. It approached Chloe first, giving her feet a curious sniff before it's attention locked onto Felix. It trotted closer, and with the gravity of a royal degree, sat at his feet, eyes gleaming with expectancy.

"I don't have any food." Felix chuckled, watching as the dog's head tilted with one ear flopped down and the other stood at attention. A lopsided salute. "Sorry. Where did you even come from?" he leaned down, hand hovering briefly before settling on the dog's head. Instantly, the pup flopped onto its back, exposing a belly that demanded a rub. Felix laughed again, and of course he obliged, patting at the stomach. His eyes then met Chloe's, a shared amusement between them. "Think he got off a leash or something? Is anyone walking that way?" he nodded in the direction the dog seemed to appear from, scanning the street for any sign of an owner.

[manybcdthings]

The dog provided a much-needed distraction, a welcome break from the prickly tension that seemed to radiate off Chloe like static electricity. Felix could almost predict what was coming. A half-baked explanation and desperate attempt to maintain that pristine image Chloe Belcourt cultivated so carefully. After all, in her world, Chloe could do no wrong. His hand instinctively recoiled from the dog when she pointed out its weight, suggesting it might be a stray. "Ah, shit. Maybe." Felix muttered, eyeing the dog as it looked up at him, puzzled by the sudden lack of attention. "Could be the type that hangs around the stores, getting scraps from the owners." he added, nodding towards the shuttered butcher shops and bakeries lining the alley where Chloe now walked.

It didn't surprise Felix that no owner was in sight. The more he studied the dog, the more certain he became that it belonged to no one. There was no collar, and its wiry fur was tousled in a way that spoke of neglect. The dog seemed…unloved. The thought made Felix frown as it sat up, fixing him with a pleading look that was almost comically earnest. "He’s not shy around people, though. Probably knows how to work a crowd for food." Felix chuckled, though his pat on the dog's head was brief as his mind was already running through the likely presence of fleas and grime.

As Felix finished his cigarette with his other hand, he glanced at Chloe. "Just a moment." he said, slipping back into the bar, navigating the door with difficulty as the dog pawed at it, trying to follow. "No… stay." Felix commanded, then frowned at the absurdity of the situation. "You probably speak Italian, right? Rimanere." he added, having to try and squeeze into the door without opening it too wide and let the canine wander in with him. It took a few minutes, and Felix didn't even consider how he must have looked to the others, disappearing to the bar, then reemerging with a plate of scraps and a bowl of water. He was met by the dog's wagging tail when he slipped outside again and Felix also caught the sound of Chloe murmuring something to the animal. It might have been an endearing sight, if it were anyone else. Setting the food and water down, he watched as the dog wasted no time diving into the scraps. "I blame Bella." Felix remarked with a slight laugh, though it was clear he still wasn’t inviting Chloe into a conversation.

chloe doesn't think she's ever been happier for time in italy to draw to a close. she knows the mess she has to deal with back in new york after texting bunny with full knowledge of what her cousin is like. it's all gone too far, but that doesn't stop her from following after felix. needing to find some sort of middle ground. just the perfect place where she isn't innocent but isn't guilty either, just somewhere that allows all of this to blow over.

but all of her confidence falters once she slips outside and is met by felix's closed demeanor. his reluctance to even look at her is obvious, making chloe glance into the bar window where an incorporeal arlo sits beside noah. she's embarrassed all the other witches will see, but slightly grateful the wolf is none the wiser. chloe's eyes scan over the table, the congregation of some of her longest standing friends, her family. it drives home ines' words all the more, urging chloe to find the confidence she needs to say something to felix.

before she has a chance, the moment is disrupted by a canine intervention. 'oh, hi.' chloe chuckles as the dog sniffs at her feet, but before she can lean down to give it a pat, it's fixed it's infatuation to felix. that alone is enough to make chloe laugh again, stifling the sound with a little clear of her throat. chloe peers along the alleyway, and then to felix again as the dog rolls to its back for a belly rub. 'i think...he looks kinda skinny. he might be a stray?' chloe frowns as she notices the lack of pudge around the dog's stomach but she moves away from the bar, heading along the alleyway to hopefully find an owner. 'no, there's no one.' she says to felix, shaking her head and shrugging. she looks again to the dog, the way it appears to be smiling up to felix. 'i think you have a new best friend.'