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Henry leaned in slowly, closing in on Camille's lips. He was beyond the point of return and there was no way that he would be able to stop himself. He was sitting somewhere in a space between aching anticipation and realization. It was like standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down at the sea. He wondered if she felt the same in that split second, but all he could see was her yearning face. Was that a signal? On the seaside cliff- like they're both looking down to the ocean and back at each other, their hearts beating as they both leap and then-
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And then, his lips gently touch hers. A nervous splash of tension begins to dissolve into a calm release. The electric charge once felt is quickly replaced with warm waves of bliss and pleasure. A sigh is shared between the two. Henry pulls away for just a moment, exhales while acknowledging the leap they'd taken, and goes back to her for a second kiss. Henry sat there, wrapped in Camille's presence, slowly finding comfort in the rhythm they've built together.
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The world around receded. They were adrift at sea, feeling the dance of each other's heartbeats strong enough to feel like riding a wave. It was serene. He had hoped she felt the same way.
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Their lips parted and he touched foreheads with Camille. Henry's mouth opened as if to say something, but after opening he hesitated, and as soon as they were open, they closed. He sat across from Camille and looked at her longingly while his thumbs rubbing the outsides of her hands.
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camille harte

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I guess so.. He paused and thought for a minute. You know I've always kind of envied that about you. Like when you went to school for example- it seemed like it was such a deliberate choice. He remembered being kind of annoyed by that when he was younger. It was a childish thing in hindsight, and of course he never told her about it.
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To be honest, I'm not really sure what I want. I don't dislike baking, but it just.. He paused, not really sure about what he was trying to say. I think I want to be good at something.
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He watched the girls and their friend start drifting away on a large fuzzy pillow on the floor after carefully forming a pile onto each other. Things were quiet before, but somehow it had managed to get even deeper. The outlining bricks on the ovens had matched with the color palette of a sunset that was beginning to form through the windows.
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Henry looked up to her and saw what little sunlight was left, illuminate her inside the little cottage. She was listening, patiently watching. She was stunning and time had been stopped to let them exist only for each other, just for a little while.
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Henry slowly reached for her hands and coupled them together with his own. They were very different than his; small and soft and somehow much warmer too. He could feel a faint, light pulse but couldn't tell if it was her heartbeat or his.
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After all that talk about not knowing what he wanted, it seemed like the answer had almost immediately appeared right in front of him. Maybe we want the same thing?
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camille harte

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Henry chuckled and smiled at Camille. Yeah that's right- I'm using you. She was right though, she'd been doing a lot for him, and it was about time to treat her.
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As she ate, Henry noticed the concentration on her face. The way she tilted her head slightly upwards and to the left, as though searching for a thought in a particular corner of her mind, struck him as endearing. He could tell by the way she presented herself though that something was missing. He took a bite of the other pastry. Ah- This one wasn't terrible but the difference was clear and somewhat disappointing. He was worried that this would be the case. Henry inhaled sharply through his nose and accepted defeat after mentally marking this as another failure.
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You're amazing, Henry. Camille's words caught him off guard, causing him to pause and stare at her. What is she talking about? She's the one that's amazing. Secretly they both knew that the pastry from the bakery was the better of the two, but Cami's soft words and sincere intent made him realize that it wasn't really a big deal. He felt a little silly for letting all of this get to him.
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Thank you, Cami. He responded with a tender smile. I'm really glad you enjoyed it. The sweetest girl in the world was sitting next to him. Her voice was as gentle as her rosey cheeks. She had deep, emerald eyes which seemed to hold entire worlds within them. Catching himself staring, Henry blinked and a moment of clarity washed over him. After he realized what he was doing, who he was with, and how close they were, Henry discarded the negative score he had given himself earlier. Perhaps this wasn't a failure after all.
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Leaning forward, resting his forearms on the counter to close the distance between them, Henry's gaze softened. Can I ask you something? What do you want? I mean like.. in life. What do you really really want?
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camille harte

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Henry couldn't help but smile with her. Camille had an infectious joy and an addictive appreciation for little things. It was like she had an aura that could turn any mundane activity into something warm and pleasant. She inspired appreciation for life, as it was, in that exact moment. Maybe it was mind control.
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Hoagie started whimpering on the floor while Boudin slithered up onto Henry's lap. They both smelled something and wanted to take part in the action. He broke off some pieces of the first pastry and gave it to them. He also made sure to toss a piece to Flo as to not leave anyone out- especially not a guest.
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He stood up while holding Boudin on his shoulder, grabbed a napkin from the opposite counter, and placed it in front of Camille, trying his best to appear casual and not embarrass her about the face crumbs. It's the same as before: kouign-amann. This one is slightly different though.
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To tell you the truth, I'm using you. I want to see what you think of how they compare against each other. He gave her back the mug of coffee he stole earlier. Oh- take a sip of this first.
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He was trying to hide his anxiety by handling other things. The swinub on his shoulder, the napkin, the mug, and the constant knee-bouncing he was conducting from his barstool. He had tried so many times to get the recipe right, but each time was something that he considered a failure. This time there was a witness. Well- what do you think?
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He loved to watch her facial expressions. She wore her emotions on her sleeve, and her face. She seemed to be enjoying herself for the most part and that made Henry very pleased.
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It's called kouign-amann. He leaned over and ripped off a piece of the first pastry to snack on. That's what the bakery calls it anyway. I tried it for the first time a few months ago and since then I've been trying to learn how to make it. He glanced at her mug, noticing the faint imprint of light pink lipstick where she had sipped. After a brief pause, he mischievously took her coffee and took a large gulp, deliberately sipping from the same, marked spot. If you don't mind me asking- what do you like about it? He smiled, genuinely curious about her honest thoughts, but also entertained by the idea of a casual interview. In a playful, teasing type of way, he had secretly hoped it would make her a bit nervous.
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He grabbed the other plate and slid it towards her. Then try this one.
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Henry was dying of nervousness. Now this whole thing was a spectacle instead of a fun little test and he only had himself to blame for that. Come on. Just focus.
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The egg timer seemed to last forever, but finally it dings and Henry eagerly steps into doing-anything-else mode.
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The oven doors swoosh open and a brief cloud of steam escapes. Out of the oven comes a small cookie sheet holding two small, thick discs of pastry layered in such a way to make them appear like spiraling whirlpools, rotated over and over with the color of dark, buttery sugar glazing down the top and sides.
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Out come two plates from the cupboard above- tattered in flowers with ripples along the side that made the plates look like a flowers themselves. They also looked like a pain in the ass to clean. It was an old set his mom bought a long time ago.
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Henry prepares both pastries in a similar fashion and walks over to Camille. He sets the two plates down in front of her, rotates the one on the right a little bit, then places a fork in the middle onto a napkin so it didn't touch the table.
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Alright, what do you think?
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NO WAIT!! Henry leaps forward and pinches Camille's cheeks in, causing the candy to pop out of her mouth and into his hand. It only had a few, light bite marks on it.
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It took a second or two for Henry to finally realize what he'd actually just done. He pulled his hand away fast enough to retreat, but not so fast to surprise her. Sorry- I'm making something sweet and I need your honest opinion on it. No sweet things yet please. He stepped back a bit to give her some space.
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Henry turned around and went to the trash can to throw the candy out. Damnit. Why are you so god damn weird all the time?
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Somehow she was a lot smaller up close. Henry looked at the piece of candy in his hand and the fingers he touched her cheeks with. She was also a lot warmer up close. Softer too.
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Coffee might be best for this, not too sweet though. He was mostly asking for her permission, not her preference. He pulled out the paper bag of pastries he brought home from the bakery, setting them up neatly on a metal dish and promptly put the dish in a small oven to keep them warm.
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No it's just me with the girls. I thought you knew that already. Didn't I tell you? He paused to think. No he definitely didn't. They've been gone for about a year now. To be honest I don't know what they're up to. I figured they wanted some time to explore and have fun for a bit. To be honest I haven't really asked.
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He pulled another tray of unbaked pastries from the fridge and wasted no time putting them into the already pre-heated, larger oven. He wound up a tiny timer and set it on the counter. Are you still okay with coffee? Before getting an answer he was grabbing a pot and filled up two, very homely looking coffee mugs. One of the mugs was stained and had obviously already been used a few times that morning, the other had flowery decorations on it. Cream is in the fridge, but it's important that you don't add sugar.
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He held out the decorated coffee mug for camille while drinking steadily from the other.
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camille harte

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Henry loved having company over. To him the idea of bringing someone into your home, your personal space, your safe haven- was an intimate one. An idea he was especially happy to share with her.
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Something about watching her play with the girls was especially comforting. He knew she was teasing, but what do you say when you witness a sunrise in a calm, quiet forest? Mmhmm and a gentle smile was all he could muster.
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One, two..... three. Okay that's long enough. He broke contact and stood up. I have something to show you. It'll take about an hour though so you might wanna make yourself at home. You thirsty?
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camille harte

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Following the fluffy Eevee, they weave through the bustling streets of Fallarbor, taking shortcuts through alleyways lined with cobblestones and old brick buildings. The air is filled with the aroma of the small town - blooming flowers and the faint smell of the nearby sea.
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Soon, they arrive at a small house with a picturesque garden, where the scent of rosemary and thyme hangs heavily in the air. Henry's home. It's quaint and charming, much like the town it resides in.
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They approach the front door, and Henry fumbles with his keys for a moment before unlocking the door and stepping inside. The interior is cozy and warm, with a rustic charm that's welcoming and homely. A delicious smell fills the air - freshly baked bread.
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Welcome back, Cammy. Henry says with a wide smile, taking off his shoes at the entrance. It's been a while, hasn't it?
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Flo sniffs around the house curiously, darting into the living room with an excited yip. Two small, furry figures perk up from their lounging positions on a fluffy rug, their round bodies wiggling with excitement.
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There they are! Hoagie! Boudin! The moment the two Swinubs spot the party, they let out excited grunts and rush over, round bodies wiggling with glee. They nuzzle at Camille's legs, expressing their joy at her return, their noises echoing in the room.
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Henry kneels down and presents the two their favorite ice cream bars. Henry looks up to Camille while the girls snacked - Looks like I'm not the only one happy you're here.
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camille harte

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