A/N: Hey guys. Welcome to the new subbies and thank you for this weird little fanfic a chance. I'm trying my best for you guys I promise. Between studies and doctor appointments I've been pretty busy, but I haven't forgotten about you guys.
Stylish, diva, drama queen- Gold- Fae 4
Somewhat perverted- Rose Pink- Fabrice (Because the name means works with his hands) 3
Hopeless Romantic- Blue- Fleur 6
Culinary Genius- Orange- Farran (Cause the name means Baker) 5
Smart, Clever, Witty- Purple- Fahim 2
Nation/Personification Duties- White- Finley 7
Caring and sympathetic- Silver- Faust 13
Cheerful and happy- Yellow- Felicienne (Great Happiness) 8
Sad or Depressed, just hides it very well- Gray- Farand 1
Mature and logical- Brown- Fermont 9
Anger- Red- Falkner 10
Gardener, caretaker, all around organization- Green- Fabien 11
Thirteen Frogs and a Brit
Chapter 5: Lost in a Good Book
Arthur sighed as he heard the timer on his phone going off to soon signaling that the hour with Farrand was up and it was time to get up for real. Breakfast everyone had agreed on was at eight so he had time for one more before breakfast and someone else who seemed to be tolerable this early in the morning would be Fahim. So he reached over and tiredly turned off the timer and gave Farrand a nudge. "An hours up. You gonna stay up here until breakfast?"
"I'm probably not even going to go down to breakfast. Falkner doesn't like me..."
"But the others will have your back right? Like they said last night you don't have to worry about him."
"But they also forget me just as fast...if I'm left alone then he'll take the opportunity because he knows that I hate confrontation and don't like to fight. Says that a man to weak to fight for what he wants doesn't deserve it..."
Arthur sighed lightly as he heard he said while slowly unwrapping himself from around the other. "Well, I'm not going to force you. If you feel like coming down then do so and if not then there's no pressure. Alright?"
A nod was given before the head was burrowed into the pillows and Arthur pushed himself up off the bed and straightened out his clothes. "Would Fahim be in the library by now?"
"If he's not busy devising some sort of prank or another then yes...though he might be doing in the library. After all if you made him upset yesterday you might want to watch your back."
"How did-"
"Being invisible has its perks. You hear and see things when no one thinks you do."
A small pang of nostalgia settled into his gut as he heard those words. It had been a long time since he had heard those words spoken by little Matthew when he had always asked him how he knew certain things. Nonetheless he gave a small nod of acknowledgement, bid him a good morning and headed out the room to the library. Still bearing in mind the warning that had been given to him and just in case the door was booby trapped he decided to take a different door in and smiled a bit smugly as she saw the bucket of poised and ready to dump on the first person that walked in. "Really?" He called out to the various shelves and sat at one of the tables. "I'm a little smarter than that. Nice try though." It would have put a damp in his morning if he had gotten wet, since he was a bit of a cat at heart and could not stand to get wet that often, even if he lived in one of the rainiest countries still. He would rather die than be caught without an umbrella unless it was an absolute emergency and even then it was debatable whether or not it was important enough to not stop and grab one.
"Well considering you thought I wasn't clever enough I thought I'd go with the obvious. Apparently I have to up my game. The usual tricks aren't going to work. What do you want?" Fahim asked as he stepped around the corner of one of the shelves.
"Well do you want your hour with me or not? Just say the word and I'll leave, but I would like to know more about you."
Fahim peered over the top of the book that was currently held in his hands and quirked a brow. "Huh. That's rather funny. Thought you were just going to address all of us based on the assumptions you were making of us rather than actually doing what you wanted to do with this idea of yours."
Arthur shifted lightly in his seat and let out a small a sigh. "Yes well...yesterday it just came as a bit of shock because I didn't expect this to happen so soon so I was a bit startled, but I'm over it now and I would like to get to know you for you. You all are technically him yes, but at same time you are different parts of him so I should start getting to know you as such. I did this because I wanted to know Francis better. That's the same thing I told Farrand just an hour earlier. So tell me...does he have a favorite book or genre?"
Fahim looked on with slight surprise before it settled again and he snapped his book shut in one fluid motion. "Well I suppose if you're going to start making an effort then I'll humour you." He waited until he had taken a seat across from Arthur to speak though. Laying the book in front of him and then laying his hands on that. "He's very partial to fantasy and historical fiction. What could have happened if this didn't. Stuff like that, because while at certain times it was scary to think about now it's a morbid curiosity to him. I'm sure you could understand non?"
Arthur listened curiously to what he had to say in response to the questions he had asked and tilted his head lightly. "Really? It doesn't make him panic or anything like that?"
"Non, not anymore. And I have to agree with him. While he's thankful that most things turned out the way they did, it's just very fascinating to think about how much worse off we all could be right now. For how much fighting our histories are entrenched with, we all could be at a much worse place than we are right now. We're doing alright. At least in my opinion."
Arthur thought about what was being said and he had to agree he couldn't help, but see that the other had a point. While at times of hopelessness it was quite scary to think that they weren't going to pull through, but now he could see the appeal of the what ifs and Fahim had a point. The world was in a better place than it could be given how much shit it had been through. "Yes you do have a point and I can understand the appeal I suppose, I just never took him as much a historical fiction guy I suppose."
"Yes he still reads erotic novels and hopeless romantic stuff, but that's Fleur's area of expertise if that's what you're asking."
"Just not as much as I though huh?"
"Non."
"I see."
There was an awkward silence between the two for a couple minutes. Arthur sending his gaze to the bookshelf behind Fahim rather than focusing on him Fahim laying his eyes on the book underneath his hands.
"What are you reading right now?" Arthur finally asked with a bit curiously.
"Leviathan, a historical science fiction trilogy that takes place during one world war one. The central forces are using machines that they have fabricated into living beings of sorts, known as clankers, but so far it's turning out pretty to be a pretty good read. I would recommend it."
"Mm...sounds interesting. I might take you up on that recommendation. So are you not a fan of hopeless romantic stuff?"
A shake of the head was given in answer along with a sigh. "Non, if I gonna read something romantic, then romantic tragedy is where it's at for me. I'm not a fan of the whole 'oh love can solve everything because we have each other' crap. It's a bit unrealistic to me."
"Yet there is some truth to it..."
"Yes, but it can so over exaggerated that I just can't stand it."
Arthur gave a small shrug. "Eh. I've always been indifferent to the whole thing. I could take it or leave it. I've been both of sides of that sort of thing so I see it both ways."
Fahim rolled his eyes lightly as he heard what he had to say, but didn't comment any farther on the matter of the subject. "Would you like me to read a bit of this to you. A little excerpt?"
Arthur blinked lightly at the offer before a small smile crossed his lips. "Why don't you read the first couple of pages to me? Since I'm sure it won't take you much longer to finish it. Will it?"
"Non not really. I'll probably have it finished by the end of the day...so whose next after me?"
"Hm? Oh...Fabrice gets the next hour after breakfast. Figured I might as well get the lust ridden frog out of the way."
"He's really not that bad. He's overbearing, but just put your foot down and he'll probably listen. It's just getting him to listen sometimes that the headache, but given your stubborn attitude I'm sure you'll be able to handle him just fine. Just don't let him blind side you."
Arthur nodded lightly as he leaned back in his chair to get comfortable for the story. "Alright I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for letting me know."
Fahim smiled a bit for the first time, at least that Arthur had seen, then cracked open the book and flipped to the first page.
(The book mentioned above is highly recommended by the way. For anyone that wants to check it out. I read it along time ago and kind of wish I could read it again, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere recently minus online.)