Come Find Me

It was 1944, a month or so after the Allied forces had landed on the beaches at Normandy and had begun to make their way through France, liberating the people there from the German occupation. The allied forces had made it within a few dozen miles away from Paris, and a few of the units of the British forces had settled in a little town near the Seine to rest and wait for word on the plan for liberating Paris in the coming weeks. The people of the town were incredibly grateful for the soldiers for getting rid of the Germans, and had welcomed them into their homes, letting them stay in spare bedrooms and doing their best to help feed as many of them as they could with the little food they had. Mousier Laurent had kindly allowed many of the men to stay in the old barn on his farm, it having been empty besides a horse and a few chickens and goats. The family did their best to provide for them, with Mousier Laruent's wife providing warm meals for them, and his daughter, Margot, helping keep the place tidy and washing their clothes for them when she had a chance. She spoke English pretty well, although neither of her parents did so she didn't get to practice much, but she didn't really talk to the soldiers much, as she was quite shy, and her mother had warned to not linger around them too long, afraid of her only daughter getting hurt.

It was a sunny morning in late July, a few days after the British had arrived in the small town, and Margot was hurrying around the farm tending to the laundry which she'd hung to dry overnight, carefully unpinning it from the line and folding it into the laundry basket before moving onto the next one, humming a lullaby her mother used to sing to her and her dress billowing in the light breeze.

@ poe dameron

Will had finally been said on a two week 'holiday' from the front lines. He'd survived longer than he thought possible on the front lines, and was exceedingly glad to be getting a break. He didn't even care what he did, he just wanted away from the bombs and the gunfire and the mud. He wanted to sleep with a roof over his head. He wanted to pretend to be your average 27 year old again.

His feet landed outside of a house with a large barn in the background. His boots shifted the gravel behind him as he walked up the path towards the house. He'd been instructed that he'd be staying in the barn. The family who lived there allowed soldiers on break to spend their nights there, and he'd been told that they were very nice and largely accommodating people. He wasn't one of the first arrivals by far, and he probably wouldn't be the last to come and go from the farm, so he wasn't surprised that they were good people. To allow soldiers run of your barn... Let's just say he wouldn't have done it.

Will wasn't sure if he was to knock on the door, or just go to the barn, but by the time he'd turned around his ride had already started to drive off. With a small frown, he decided to head around the back of the house to the barn. Hopefully there was another man there who could tell him what to do. To his surprise and deep appreciation, a young woman was taking laundry down from a clothing line.

"Excuse me, miss?" Will said as he approached, taking his hat off as he walked closer to her. "I'm Sergeant William McGuiness, I'm here to sleep in the barn?" He paused, realizing she might not even speak English. "Sorry, um... Je suis William McGuiness. Je... Je dors dans la... la grange?"

His french was extremely rusty, the last time he'd taken it being in high school. He'd been good at it back then, but he hadn't used it in nearly ten years, so it was all but gone from him.

@ poe dameron

Margot turned quickly in surprise when she heard Will call out to her, hiding partially behind the sheet that she was taking down, still getting used to having to talk to the strange men her father was allowing to stay in the family barn. She had understood his English, as she'd studied it in high school, and although that was a few years ago, the 22 year old appreciated when he tried to speak in her native language, finding herself smiling faintly, albeit nervously, as she looked over at him.

"Oui. La grange est l'endroit où les soldats dorment ... Voulez-vous que je vous montre?" She asked, deciding that she wanted to see how long she could get away with him not realizing that she spoke English. She hadn't really spoken to many of the other soldiers since they'd first begun to arrive a few days before, usually only answering simple yes or no questions or pointing in the direction of whatever building or street they were looking for.

She reached up to finish taking down the sheet from the clothesline, setting it in the basket near her feet before picking it up and holding it in her arms as she waited for his answer.

---

((I'll put the English translation of the French down here when she uses it))
Yes. The barn is where the soldiers sleep ... Do you want me to show you?

Will tried to keep his expression calm, he didn't want to look like he was in a panic. He had been in a fire fight against the Germans, he couldn't let a beautiful girl speaking French break his composure more than that had. He knew she said something about soldiers in the barn. The question she asked him went right over his head, however. He let out a breathy laugh, giving up. He looked at her as he lifted his hand up to scratch the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry, Miss, I have no idea what you asked me," Will said sheepishly. He guessed he'd have to just point and grunt for communication. He glanced over to the barn then back to her, before pointing in the direction. "Do I go there?"

He hoped she didn't think he was a complete imbecile. He did at least try, so he was banking on her giving him some points for at least getting a broken sentence out for her.

@ poe dameron

Margot couldn't help but giggle a little at his confusion, although when she realized that he might consider that to be rude she quickly stopped, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. Her eyes followed to where he was pointing, and after a moment she turned to look back at him and nodded, starting to head toward the barn to show him where the soldiers were staying. When she realized that he might not be following her she paused, turning and gesturing a bit for him to follow her, hoping he would understand.

"Viens avec moi, les soldats sont ici." She said, gesturing for him to follow her again and offering him a faint smile, waiting until he joined her before continuing the short walk to the barn where the soldiers were staying. There were already a few men sitting outside in the sun smoking cigarettes and playing cards, while more could be heard in the barn. They whistled and jeered as Margot approached, the poor young girl blushing faintly even though she didn't understand much of what they were saying, hurrying past them and through the door of the barn. Most of the soldiers were polite and didn't act like the men outside, although most of them agreed that she was quite beautiful, and all had at one point wished or dreamed of a night alone with her, but Margot was none the wiser and probably much happier for it.

Once inside she waited for William once more, gesturing up to the hayloft, where there weren't as many soldiers, most having set up their cots and sleeping bags on the ground floor. "Il y a plus de place là-haut. Si vous avez besoin de quoi que ce soit, mes parents devraient être ici bientôt." She said, heading back toward the door to continue her chores, although she paused at the door, looking back at him.

"...Goodbye." She murmured quickly, a blush heating up her cheeks before she turned and hurried back toward the house.

---

Come with me, the soldiers are this way.
There is more room up there. If you need anything, my parents should be here soon.

[that is so helpful, youre the best my French is limited to about that of a 2 year old ]

She was gone before Will could say thank you. He nodded around to the men who greeted him, making a mental note of which ones he knew he wasn't going to like - the ones who were heckling the woman who was kind enough to be doing their laundry. He dropped his sack down on the floor near an empty cot, and stretched his arms above his head.

"Do any of the people who live here speak English?" Will asked one of the men near him, an American private.

"No sir," he replied, shaking his head. "I've only heard them say hello and goodbyes."

Will pursed his lips and nodded. Against his better judgement, he decided to go after the girl who'd just lead him to the barn. Maybe he could try to string together enough to communicate his thanks and appreciation for what her and her parents, that he thought he heard her mention, were doing for all of them.

He jogged up to the quaint little house on the land and knocked on the back door, straightening out his shirt a bit as he waited for someone to come to the door. Hopefully, it was the girl who'd only just left his sight.

@ poe dameron

After a few moments the door was opened by a plump older woman, who greeted the young man but shooed him back away from the door, speaking quickly in French. Margot appeared shortly after to see what the commotion was, and was surprised to see the soldier from before. A blush heated up her cheeks, and she nodded obediently at whatever her mother had said before the older woman disappeared back into the house, the smell of fresh bread and stew wafting out from the kitchen.

"She... She asked me to tell you that the food is not ready yet, but will be ready within the hour, and that the soldiers are supposed to stay near the barn... She doesn't want dirt to be tracked in the house." She murmured softly, staring down at her shoes sheepishly before glancing up at him, hoping he wouldn't be upset with her for not speaking English earlier.

"Oh I-" Will stopped himself before he could finish his sentence. "Wait, you speak English? Did you want me to look like an idiot in front of you or something?"

His tone was light and obviously joking, and a grin moved its way across his face. He gave his head a little shake as if to say 'naughty naughty' like a mother would a child, but gave her a friendly wink so she'd know he wasn't serious.

"I didn't come to ask about dinner, I honestly wasn't expecting to be fed," he informed her. "I just wanted to say thank you for showing me where to go. It was very kind of you. And thank you to your parents as well for letting me stay here - letting all of us stay here. It's probably more than some of them deserve."

He wasn't sure if she'd understand that the last bit was a direct jab at those men who were hooting and hollering at her, but thats exactly how he meant it.

@ poe dameron

A blush heated up her cheeks at his teasing, although she couldn't help but smile a little, especially when he thanked her for showing him around and for letting the soldiers stay.

"It's no trouble... You're kinder than the Germans, and father's of the opinion that if you're not all well rested and fed you'll lose the war.." she spoke with a little frown, jumping in surprise when she heard her mother calling to her across the house, briefly turning back inside to listen and answer her before she stepped outside again, shutting the door behind her.

"I have to get back to my chores... Mother says lunch will be ready soon, she sets everything up on the front porch, if you're hungry.." Margot explained, nervously adjusting the kerchief that was keeping her hair out of her eyes as she looked at him.

Her father wasn't wrong about the war. Constant fighting and living off military rations did no one any good. These little breaks gave them the piece of humanity they needed to keep sane and keep fighting the good fight. It reminded them why they were there, and what they were trying to save.

"Will you be there?" Will asked, hopeful. He'd spend enough time with soldiers. He didn't want to sit and talk war strategies and that kind of thing, which he knew would end up happening. He was willing to bet she was probably sick of the soldiers too. He wouldn't be enjoying doting on them if he was her. He knew how they could be.

Margot blushed when he asked her if she'd be eating with the soldiers at lunch, shaking her head a little. "I help maman serve everyone their meals, but I usually eat by the old apple orchard... No one ever really goes over there, so it's quiet.." she explained softly. She wasn't used to all of the commotion and noise that accompanied an army living near your home, and while she didn't mind the extra chores and was grateful for what they were doing, she sometimes wished they'd all disappear so she could have her peace and quiet back.

She moved down the steps and past him, offering him a sheepish smile as she headed back toward the clothes line with a basket of fresh laundry to be hung and dried.

"Would you mind if I joined you?" Will asked, turning and following her towards the clothing lines. "You don't have to say yes, but I think I'd like your company more than theirs."

He nodded towards the barn, giving his head a small shake. He looked back over to her and reached to gently take the basket of laundry from his hands. He continued to walk to the clothes lines, figuring if he was going to bother her by asking to eat with her, he could at least help her with the laundry. He'd feel bad sitting around and watching her work, anyways, even if he was supposed to be on a holiday from the front lines.

"You never told me your name," Will pointed out once they reached the clothes lines, a smile on his face.

@ poe dameron

Margot looked over at him in surprise when he asked if he could join her, staring at him for a moment as she considered his offer before nodding. When he began to take the basket from her grip on it tightened, not wanting to let it go and have her mother think she was slacking off on her chores. So for a few moments they stood together, with the basket between them, the younger woman staring up at him with a blush on her cheeks before she finally realized he wouldn't let go and she stepped back, clearing her throat awkwardly before continuing to the clothesline.

"Margot." She stated simply when he asked for her name, beginning to take the damp clothes from the basket to pin to the line to dry.

"Nice to meet you, Margot," Will said, happy she relinquished the basket now in his hands. His eyes stayed on her as she hung up the clothes, a soft smile on his lips. She really was a beautiful woman. He found it rather endearing that she'd blushed several times in the few minutes they'd been talking. It made her seem youthful and innocent.

"So, what is there to do for fun around here? I'm in your lovely city for two weeks, I figure I might as well enjoy myself, but I honestly have no idea where to go or what to do for a good time."

"Nice to meet you too... William." She murmured softly as she shook out one of the shirts to get the wrinkles out before hanging it up, the young woman doing her best to keep from staring at the handsome soldier, although her eyes would occasionally meet his, which always earned another blush from her before she looked away once more to focus on her tasks.

She was surprised when he asked her about what there was to do for fun in the small town, shrugging a little. "It's a small town, and most of the buisnesses have suffered because of the war.. There's a small restaurant and bar in town where many of the soldiers have been visiting in the evening, and I think they've cleared a space so people can dance.. I've also heard the soldiers talking about going swimming in the river from the bridge a mile or so away, but I don't know if any have gone yet.. Other than that we're mostly a quiet farming town, although it's not very quiet anymore now that you all are here."

"Yes, I imagine its a bit more rowdy around here now with all of us men here," Will laughed apologetically. Swimming was always fun, and a dance floor in a restaurant and bar would be a great time. He'd never seriously dated any one person before, but he'd been on a his fair share of dates. As long as there was some beer and good music, he always enjoyed himself.

"And what do you do for fun, Margot?" he asked, a smile on his face.

Margot nodded a little, his statement about things being more rowdy an understatement, really, but she couldn't help but smile when he laughed, glad that he seemed content with the few things her town had to offer him. She frowned a little though when he asked her what she did for fun, giving a little shrug. She'd been 18 when the Germans invaded and occupied the country, so the past four years she hadn't been doing much outside of her chores around the house.

"I don't know.. I usually read, or listen to the old radio sometimes when my parents are out.. There hasn't been much time for fun the past few years." She frowned, pulling the last shirt from the basket to hang up.

[I don't remember if I hit reply on the other rp ]

"Would you want to go dancing?" Will offered. "Apologies if that's too bold, but if you haven't had any fun in a few years, I definitely think it's time that you do."

Margot was obviously a very sweet and caring girl, otherwise she wouldn't be running around doing all these chores for the soldiers in her living space. She was also a dutiful daughter, if seemed, and he admired that about her already. From what she'd said, she didn't let loose very often. He knew he'd have fun if they went out, and he hoped that he could offer her the same thing.

(I'm at work and might have forgotten to reply to the other one, I'm also trying to think of a good reply instead of just a little crappy one, so it might be a while before I reply to that one)

Margot blushed brightly when he asked her if she wanted to go dancing with him, accidentally pulling the shirt she'd been trying to hang down from the line. She stared at him in shock for a moment before quickly turning to hang up the shirt again, not meeting his eyes as her cheeks flushed bright red.

"Maman says that I'm not allowed to spend time alone with the soldiers... I have to go. Merci de m'aider avec le linge." She said quickly, taking the basket from him before hurrying back to the house, keeping her head down. A dozen or so soldiers had asked her to go dancing with them, but he was the first one she'd actually wanted to go with, but she couldn't disobey her parents.

---

Thank you for helping me with the laundry.