Come Find Me

[no worries!!]

Will just looked after her with a disappointed look. He rubbed the back of his neck, heading back towards the barn. She probably didn't want him to eat dinner with her that night either, judging by that reaction. He put his hands into his pockets as he neared the barn.

"Another hast fallen!" Another English soldier said with a laugh. Will looked at him, with an eyebrow raised, and the soldier continued. "I've seen three blokes try to get her to spend time with them. I don't think she's one for a quick shag."

"Just being friendly to her, mate," Will said, shrugging at the other man. He didn't want to pick a fight, so he walked right by the other guy and into the barn where he'd placed his belongings. With a small sigh, he flopped onto the bed. He supposed he could just go to the bar by himself. He assumed there would be other women to spend his time with. After all, she was just one girl. He wasn't going to let himself get upset about it. He had bigger fish to fry, namely Nazis.

Margot remained in the house for the rest of the day, telling her mother that she was feeling unwell, and that she'd clean the house instead of doing the laundry like she had been. Luckily her mother bought the lie, as Margot rarely slacked off, and her mother gave her the rest of the day to rest. So, Margot spent the remainder of the day in her room curled up in bed, occasionally lifting the curtain on her window a bit to peer out at the lawn towards the barn, half hoping to see William again, although she also hoped he wouldn't reappear, as she wouldn't know what to do if she saw him again. She tried telling herself that she was just like all of the others, that he only wanted to take from and use her while he was here before leaving in a few weeks to go back to the war, but for some reason she couldn't imagine him doing something like thst, even though she knew he probably had already.

She nearly slept through dinner, too, but luckily her mother came and woke her up from her nap and told her to come help herself to stew and rice and bread, the young girl nodding and taking a minute to brush out her hair and fix her dress before heading to the porch where the last few soldiers were being served their meals.

Will spent the afternoon in and out of sleep, thankful that it was only laughter and rough housing keeping him awake and not bombs, screaming, or gunfire. He was awoken for good to the smell of a freshly cooked meal. When he opened his eyes, most of them men sitting around him had a plate to eat.

"Soups on, Sarge," the American soldier from before informed him. Will nodded and said a small thanks before standing up. He stretched his arms over his head and headed out of the barn. He picked his pace up to a slight jog and soon he was at the back porch with a bowl of stew in one hand, and a piece of buttered bread in the other.

"Merci," Will said, trying to remember how to mention smells. "Uh, bonne odeur." He knew that wasn't even close to being grammatically correct, but he hoped that would get the point across that the food smelled good. As he turned to leave, he saw Margot walking out onto the porch. He offered her a small smile, "enjoy the food."

He gave her a small nod before heading back off the porch, figuring he'd find a spot along the outside of the barn to eat outside.

Margot's mother smiled at the young man, finding it charming that he was making an effort to speak French. "De rien, jeune homme. Margot, dis-lui d'en avoir plus, il y en a plus qu'assez." She said to her daughter, who looked up from where she was ladling stew into her bowl and blushed brightly when she saw it was William. "I... She wants you to know that there's plenty, and to help yourself." She murmured softly before looking away in embarrassment, finishing serving herself her meal before hurrying off to the corner of the porch to sit with a few of her friends who had come to eat with them and gawk at the soldiers, the young Frenchwomen laughing and giggling as they pointed out different soldiers around the lawn, whispering to each other in French. Margot's friends happily accepted every offer to go dancing or get a drink, and although they encouraged Margot to do the same, she remained silent, always offering a apologetic smile and giving the same answer: "Non, merci."

From where Will sat at the side of the barn, he could see the porch on the house. Margot was sitting with a group of friends. He wasn't close enough to hear them, not that it would have done him any good. He ate without any interaction with the other soldiers, and when he was done the bowl he stood up and headed back up to the porch to see if there was seconds. If they were telling him to help himself, he was going to. He hadn't had a meal this good in a long time.

He didn't say anything to the group of girls upon initially stepping back onto the porch, scooping another helping of stew in silence. He glanced over his shoulder at the group of girls. They were all rather attractive, but then again he hadn't seen a woman in France that was ugly yet. They all seemed much more enthusiastic about the soldiers, every so often one of them waving at someone on the yard. Before he could look away, one of them noticed him looking between them and waved, and in a thick French accent said, "Hello, soldier!"

Will offered her a small smile, "Bonjour, mademoiselle." He turned his gaze to Margot, lifting his bowl slightly. "Tell your mother it's delicious."

Margot chatted softly with her friends, although didn't really participate in their calling out to the soldiers that passed. She looked up when one of them pointed out William, a faint blush heating up her cheeks when she saw that he was looking over at them, and she looked at her friend to scold her when she called out to him, although William's reply and his request that she tell her mother that he enjoyed the food caused her to fall silent, looking over at him sheepishly with a little nod.

When her friends noticed her reaction they began to giggle, the woman who had called out to him before speaking up again. "Monsieur, would you like to go dancing with us? We're going soon and all of us have someone to go with except Margot."

Margot heard this and began to protest, a blush heating up her cheeks, but she was shushed by her friends, who reminded her that she'd promised them she'd go out with them tonight.

Will looked at the girl who'd spoken to him as she'd done so, before his eyes moved back to Margot quickly. She was obviously embarrassed. He wasn't sure if she was shy, delicate, or just never really spoke to men. Regardless of which it was, he did find the blushing cute and amusing.

"I'd love to," Will replied, looking back to the girl who'd addressed him. "Except I had asked her to go dancing this afternoon, but she declined. I wouldn't want to impose my presence on her."

He really would enjoy going, but if she'd prefer not to be accompanied, he wouldn't try to force her into anything. Maybe he'd go on his own, see if any other ladies were there to dance with - even though he was sure he wouldn't find them as endearing as Margot. If there weren't, he'd just get drunk with the soldiers that were guaranteed to be there.

Margot's friends scolded her for turning him down earlier before turning back to him. "You won't impose. She needs to have fun, be less of a... How do you say, stick in the mud?" Her friends giggled at the joke, obviously thinking it to be quite funny.

Margot frowned a little as they laughed before looking up at William sheepishly, giving him a little shrug before looking down at her lap. "I... I guess it wouldn't hurt.. If you don't mind.."

"No, I don't mind at all," Will said encouragingly. "What kind of a man would mind dancing with the most beautiful girl in the bar."

Hew knew he probably shouldn't have said it, but he kind of wanted the reaction. It send Margot's friends into a fit of squeals and giggling, very on brand for the short amount he'd seen of them while standing on the porch. He gave them all a smile and lifted his bowl up slightly, indicating it was an important matter.

"Well I'll be going to finish my supper now. You'll know where to find me."

Without another word, he turned and headed off the porch and went back to his spot by the barn. He felt quite content. A full stomach, a bed under an actual roof, and the promise of a dance with a beautiful French woman. This was the most comfort he'd felt in a long time.

Margot blushed brightly at his compliment, smiling shyly up at him as he got his second helping before leaving, nodding a little when he said to come find him later. Her friends quickly turned their attention on her, giggling as they talked about how cute William was and how excited they were for later.

About an hour or so later the group of girls showed up at the barn to grab their dates, the young women giggling as they took the arms of the soldiers and began to lead them off to town. Margot was with them, sheepishly looking for William, the girls having taken her kerchief off her head and fixed her hair up nicely, although she'd refused to change dresses, as she didn't really have anything nicer.

Once Will had finished his meal, he passed his bowl to one of the privates to bring up to the house. He was glad that even people not in the Royal Marines like he was would respect the rank. He supposed they'd be worried their own commanders would get word of otherwise and would reprimand them.

Will didn't have any clothes besides the clothes he wore into battle, so he just tried to get them looking as clean and tidy as he could. Without a mirror he relied on muscle memory to guide him into making his appearance somewhat presentable. When he was told that 'the quite French kid' was there to see him, he nodded with a smile.

He headed out of the barn and immediately smiled wide when he saw her.

"You look beautiful, Margot," Will said honestly. "I hope you have your dancing shoes on."

Margot blushed brightly at his compliment, offering him a shy smile as she nodded a little. "I'm not a very good dancer... I hope you don't mind if I step on your feet." She murmured softly, taking his arm nervously when he offered it, leading him after her friends and their dates through the little town to the bar where they'd set up the dancing. A band was playing and everyone seemed to be having a good time, with her friends and their dates quickly moving into the crowd to get drinks and head out on the dance floor.

Margot looked up at him sheepishly once inside, unsure of what she should do at that point. "I.. I can order your drink for you, if you'd like."

Will nodded to her, "Sure. I'll drink whatever you get. Here."

Will reached into his pocket an handed her enough money to get them both a drink, a smile on his face. He wasn't going to let her pay, no way no how. Especially when her family was feeding and lodging him without him paying. He assumed they were being compensated by the military somehow, but he wasn't sure.

He stuck close to Margot's side, but his eyes were wandering around the establishment. It wasn't much, but he liked the atmosphere of it. Everyone seemed carefree and happy. It was like a breath of fresh air for him.

@ poe dameron

Margot blushed as he handed her the money, nodding as she led him over to the bar to order a drink for him, not much of a drinker herself. She ordered whatever the most popular drink among the soldiers in the bar was, paying with his money before turning to hand him both the drink and the change.

"Here you are. I hope it's alright." She spoke, sticking close to him in the crowded bar, afraid of getting separated. There was no use in trying to find a table as it was packed, so she kept her arm linked with his as they stood there, Margot looking up at him as she waited for him to say something.

Will nodded and took the drink from her, taking a nice big gulp. Oh, he'd missed beer for sure.

"It's great, love," he said with a smile. "Y'know, I was born in Ireland and moved to Manchester when I was twelve. Probably why my accent is a bit wonky. Anyways, when I used to drink with my friends back home before all this started, I'd be able to drink more than them and they'd always blame it on me being Irish."

He figured they might as well get to know each other. They didn't really have anything to lose. After all, he was only there for two weeks. It would just be a bit of fun, then a goodbye, then eventually a distant memory for them to look back on, wondering what ever happened to the other.

Margot leaned closer to be able to hear him over the crowd and the music, smiling as she listened to him talk about his home. "I've never really had anything to drink before besides some champagne when my cousin got married.. I've always been too busy to to out much, I'm not really used to having fun.." she explained, smiling up at him.

She knew better than to be getting attached to him, but she couldnt help it, he was so kind to her. But she kept telling herself he'd be gone in a few weeks and he'd never come back, and reminded her not to do anything she'd regret.

"Do you want to try the beer?" Will offered, holding it out slightly towards her. "I hear its an aquired taste, and I've only ever seen two women enjoy it. But you might. It might get you to have a bit of much deserved fun."

It kind of upset him that she wasn't used to having any fun. Everyone should get to have fun, even if it was during a horrible time like they were living through. "I'll tell you what though, even if you hate it I'll help you have fun at least tonight. Maybe even later in the week too."

Margot looked up at him sheepishly as he offered the beer to her, carefully taking the mug from him and taking a little sip, her nose scrunching up a little at the taste. "Its.. It's good..." She said after a minute, letting out a little laugh as she handed it back to him. "I didn't know what I was expecting.. Thank you, though."

She smiled up at him when he offered to help her have fun even if she didn't like the beer. She stood up onto her toes to press a faint kiss to his cheek, blushing brightly as she pulled away. "Sorry... You're just very kind..."

Will smiled at her as she kissed his cheek, giving his head a little shake, "Don't be sorry. But I gotta say, you can't have much experience with men if you think me offering to help you have fun is sweet."

He didn't mean it in a cruel way, just in an observation manner. He took another drink of his beer before continuing his thought. "I just mean... I can be sweeter. I've been known to go on a rather nice date or two in my time on this earth. This doesn't count as a date, not by my standards anyways. A group in a bar doesn't count. But, if you enjoy yourself with me tonight and I don't get too much on your nerves, maybe I could take you out on a proper date later in the week?"

Margot looked up at him as he spoke, blushing brightly when he asked her out on a proper date. Rationally she knew she shouldn't agree: he was a British soldier going off to fight and possibly did in a few weeks, she shouldn't get involved with anyone she's likely to never see again. But her heart told her something very different, and so she nodded, offering him a faint smile. "Oui. J'aimerais beaucoup ça."

When the music changed to a song she liked she looked over toward the band, smiling at one of her friends who seemed to be having a good time dancing with an American officer. "Do proper dates happen in quieter places?" She asked curiously after a moment, turning back to him.

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Yes, I would like that very much.