I do not own Power Rangers: Jungle Fury

Dom and Fran are adorbs.

Places in Books

It's Not Technically A Date If You Don't Say That Part Out Loud


Parisian evening.

Parisian city lights.

Parisian streets.

And little Parisian . . .

". . . so cool to go in."

. . . restaurants.

Oh, except I'm not exactly dressed for it . . . hmmm . . .

And Francis Faye Fugleman stops.

Her cohort amicably stopping with her.

I've always wanted to try this.

And she bravely and very un-Frannie-like, digs some euro out of her pocket.

Strides right on over to a scarf seller stall.

Plucks the largest scarf of the softest pink she could ever imagine.

Pays the coins.

And strides back over to Dom.

"Fran, what are you doing?"

"Here. Hold this."

And hands him her bag.

He takes without objection, of course he would, gaze alert to what she's doing.

Fran.

Who proceeds to twist and knot and tie . . .

Okay, let's see, how did that girl in the YouTube video do this?

. . . the scarf . . .

. . . and around the front . . .

. . . into a completely covering . . .

And . . . ta da!

. . . over her white tanktop and shorts.

Wow, Dom's jaw is nearly on the ground.

Until she's completely decked out . . .

Ooh, that's fun. I surprised him for once.

. . . in a soft pink scarf dress.

Tied at the neck. Flowing down and knotted at the waist.

Stopping quite above her knees, that is true.

Ladies do not wear pigtails to dinner.

But she still has on shorts underneath so she feels quite covered and decent.

I don't think ladies wear pigtails to dinner anyway.

And now she's pulling out her elastic bands . . .

Of course I don't think they wear sneakers either.

. . . and fluffing out her hair some with her fingers.

Adjusting her glasses, nothing for that, she has to be able to see the food and the world around her and her Dom-

I mean, Dom.

Ahem.

And Dominic Marcus Hargan, for once, . . .

"Wow, Frannie, how did you do that?"

. . . is the one stunned and amazed.

"You look amazing."

And stammering and stuttering.

"I mean, you always look wonderful, but this . . ."

And Frannie finds herself . . .

"Relax, Rhino boy."

. . . fondly amused . . .

"And take a lady to dinner, . . ."

. . . by the whole thing.

As she cheekily slips her arm through his.

". . . won't you?"

And watches the grin on Dom's face . . .

"Yes, ma'am."

. . . broaden even further.


Her newfound sophistication doesn't last long.

In fact, it doesn't make it . . .

"Escargot?"

"Merci."

. . . past the appetizer.

Okay. Here we go.

Yep.

That's nasty.

And she subtly tries to deposit her mouthed piece in her napkin.

Dom notices, of course.

"Maybe RJ should put it on a pizza."

Mentions with a sly, mischievous look.

"Don't you dare."

And Fran manages the rest of the meal . . .

"What is this?"

"Chicken, I think."

. . . a little more . . .

"In white wine sauce."

. . . easily.

"I hope I don't get drunk."

"You won't. They cook it out."

For the most part.


As much as she didn't like the snails, she doesn't disparage their attempt at higher food palates though.

It's the experience that counts.

The fact she can say she tried it.

And in Paris.

Which she vastly enjoys.

And what she enjoys even more . . .

"Mi'Lady?"

Oh my gosh-

. . . is dancing.

Slowly.

With . . .

"I'm not much of a dancer."

"Me either. Want to?"

"Yes!"

. . . Dom.

They had been walking, strolling once more.

Just her and Dominic.

Oh my gosh-

In Paris.

And happened upon . . .

"Listen. Do you hear that?"

. . . street musicians.

Sitting in the grass, backs leaned against trees.

Black beanies. Black shirts and pants.

White sneakers.

So unassuming she'd swear she'd never have given them a second glance.

If they weren't playing peaceful, easy harmonies.

One on a guitar settled comfortably across his knees.

The other with a cello so large it lays tilted on the ground between his feet.

And the musicians appear for all the world to be playing for no reason other than the sheer enjoyment and purity of it.

So gently, so soulfully.

So . . . so . . .

Wow.

. . . perfectly.

And Dominic . . .

"Mi' Lady?"

. . . with characteristic subtle cheekiness and aplomb.

Ummm . . .

"Yes."

And they have begun . . .

"Of course."

. . . to dance.

They're just sort shifting from side to side, she supposes.

Neither of them, so far as she can tell, ever having shown any certain proclivity toward dancing . . . .

"Move your hips, Fran!"

"I thought I was, Lily."

. . . before.

Her hand on his shoulder, his hand light on her waist.

And their clasped hands . . .

"I didn't know you could dance, Dom."

"I think the technical term is sway."

That's what I thought.

Hee.

. . . together between them.

And they dance in the grass, music floating through the trees and out into the air.

And Fran finds it all . . .

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure. You can ask me anything, Fran."

. . . a wonderful dream.

"How did you know what your animal spirit was? Who told you?"

Dom shakes his head a little.

"Nobody. I figured it out for myself."

Oh.

"I wonder what mine would be."

He moves back a step.

Holds up and out his hand to turn her once around.

"Well, I could tell you what I think your animal spirit would be. But I won't."

Well, gee, thanks.

"No one can tell you what your spirit animal is. You have to figure it out for yourself."

Oh.

And she chuckles quietly.

"I bet I don't even have an animal spirit. I mean, I could never be a fighter or a ranger or any of that."

Dominic shrugs casually.

"Oh, everyone has an animal spirit. You don't have to be a ranger or even a student of any particular discipline to have an animal spirit. Your animal spirit is just a creature you share a connection to, share some of the same characteristics as."

Okay???

"So you have the same characteristics as a rhinoceros?"

She's a little playfully joking but also just trying to understand as well.

And he shrugs again, still swaying gently with her.

"Yeah. Some. More as I understand myself better."

"Really? Like what?"

He turns her around again.

Brings her back to him.

Their clasped hands are now resting between them, cradled up to his chest.

And Dominic starts to speak, quiet and slow and thoughtful.

"Well, rhinos are kind of complex creatures. They're strong and determined. They can be aggressive when it comes to getting what they want. They're intimidating and fearless. They have a strong physical presence. But they can also be passive and non-violent when they choose. Or they can be impulsive, take risks. Everything's a battle or a challenge for them. Almost to a fault."

And Fran can't deny . . .

"Wow. That really does sound like you."

. . . the similarities she . . .

"Yeah. It's also open to a lot of interpretation."

. . . hears.

"What do you mean?"

"We are who we choose to be, Fran. We have our tendencies but we're also in charge of our own choices."

Yeah, that's true.

And then . . .

"That's what I think anyway."

. . . they simply . . .

"I like it."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

. . . dance.


One chapter to go in Fran and Dom's European backpacking adventure!

Thanks for reading. :D