An Early Morning Tease

"What are you doing so early in the morning?"

Future spoke with curiousity as she descended the stairs, rubbing off the sleep left on her face, with Phoenix closed behind her.

"Oh, you're up" with her nose still buried in the large book. The book which used to be described as 'unclaimed' seemed to be 'claimed and useful' judging by how often Seraphine used the Creatures of the Past book, "you can still get some hours in bed before going to Felicity's"

"The shop is closed for today and I don't think I'll be getting any hours of sleep, the slightest noise makes me go awake for hours nowadays. You were a little loud yesterday with that fine ass man that brought you home" standing in front of the beautiful lady in pinafore, Future folded her arms as she teased.

"Excuse me young lady, he's not an ass!" closing the book with a loud snap.

Startled by Seraphine's sudden outburst, she raised her hands, understanding that Seraphine's reaction was due to her choice of words.

"I didn't mean an ass like the insulting one, it's just a compliment to mean that he's insanely handsome"

"Oh" nodding in realisation, "your choice of words sometimes might land you in trouble, young lady"  not taking offence at the adjective insane which came along with the description of Xavier's looks. It probably meant another compliment, as contradictory as it sounded.

"I know right" Future drew the stool and settled across her, "I think I need to study the vocabulary of this era"

"You should"

"I will. I'm curious though, was the guy wh_"

"Guy?"

"Sorry, does the man who brought you home yesterday have a younger brother" she teased, "I could have a younger version of Xavier for myself"

"Oh my God! How did you even know his name?" Red blotches stained her cheeks.

"Looks like I guessed him correctly" she chuckled "Felicity mention the name all the time when talking about you to me, besides, the first time i met her in your bedroom and she mentioned him, you had the same lovey-dovey look on you"

Her cheeks got redder, "I did not!"

"You did" placing her palms under her chin to balance her head as she looked at the women in front of her, "so, when am I going to meet him?.....and his brother?" Teasing her.

Seraphine had been careful in preventing Future come in contact with other creatures, which was why her movement had been limited to the pawn and Felicity's. She didn't know how she would react if she discovered there was more than the human creature in this era and they flocked around town even more.

When she was wondering if she was aware of other creatures except human since she knew not how the future looked like, she had discreetly discussed with her one time and had known that she was only aware of other creatures through books and what she called a TV where people can be watched in a square or rectangular object. She still hadn't been able to imagine how it was possible even though the young girl had drawn the TV and explained that it worked with electricity.

"You'll meet him soon" deciding to work harder in looking for how to get her home sooner before she would encounter other creatures.

"I don't know you like reading historical books" Future's eyes fell on the book Seraphine had gone back to reading.

"Yes, it interests me"

She had been busy reading everything she could from the book, hoping to come across something or anything that had to do it transporting through time. The book had been sitting on the counter for weeks, which was strang. Unlike before where it would disappear as soon as it's been read, it had been occupying that space since the time she placed it there.

"Uhmmmm, same with my sister, she's always burning out the candle in the library, at the historical books section to be precise"

A distant look appeared on her face as if she was recalling fondful memories about her loved ones, "she always litters our room with one history book or the other"

Seraphine squeezed the girl's hand to comfort her, she could see the pained look in her eyes as she talked about her sibling.

"You both seemed to be close" wondering what is like to have a sister one shares things with.

"Hell no, we aren't. She's annoying"

"But you miss her"

"I can't say I don't" Future shrugged.

Giving her the motivation to look harder, with a determined look, she concentrated on the book, scanning and skimming for new information.

"What are you both doing up this early"

"Good morning Mr. Pawn" Future's chirpy voice rang across the room where the old man stood on the last rung of the stairs.

"Morning" he muttered, "it's too early to be this vibrant" he snorted at Future's bright smile.

"Morning old man" Seraphine chuckled at his usual morning sickness. He was never a morning person, always waking up annoyed, she wouldn't be surprised that the only reason he made opening hour late in the morning was so he could sleep in, until she came along and changed it when she started managing it.

"See, that's how you greet in the morning" pointing at Seraphine, "with a quiet voice and a dull tone" he dashed to the kitchenette afterwards.

Seraphine rolled her eyes, turning to the girl, "ignore him" and the girl nodded.

"You know, you could allow me man the counter today while you concentrate on that book. It looks to me that you're searching for a certain info from it"

Future suggested, she had been observing how the shop is run and today that she wasn't going to out, she might as well be occupied with something else to avoid boredom.

"I'm sure the info means information but thank you anyway, I don't think there would be much to do today" looking at the gloomy weather. Most people are indoor due to the non-stop drizzling rain.

"You're right. It's a lazy weather. You wouldn't be trying to keep me off from the creature of the night, would you?"

"What do you mean?" Seraphine paused her reading.

"The vampires and the other creatures"

"What!" How did you even know about them? How?"

"Oh puhlease, I'm not blind and I'm pretty observant" smiling at the surprised look on Seraphine's face, "besides, I told you I've seen them countless time in movies and can recognise a vampire and a werewolf when I see one"

"Really? You can identify a werewolf too, what about a witch?

"Oh no, they're always the bad ones" she shrunk her face

"Trust me, not all of them"

"Felicity had already told me about all the creatures wandering around town"

"I guess we don't have to worry about you fainting again then" Mr. Pawn spoke while sipping his tea by the corner.

"That was a one time thing" Future exclaimed.

"Two, actually" Mr. Pawn replied.

"In ONE night, just one night" Future held one finger up for emphasis.

"Ok, stop it both of you. I need to need to finish this part on time, balance the account before our customers would start coming in, make sure the record book is up to date because i need to leave early"

"Where are you going?" Mr. Pawn and Future replied in unison. They both shook their heads after looking at one another.

Seraphine sighed as she looked at their faces one after the other, "I've been invited to a dinner at the Manor, so you need to come back early from your evening strolls, we can't leave Future alone"

"Duh, I'm not alone" pointing at the dog wagging her tails beside her foot.

Looking down at the disloyal dog who had gotten affectionate with Future, "figuratively, you're alone"

"Uhmmmm, seems there is an element of truth in what Mrs. Huckleberry was saying about the vampire declaring you as his in front of thousands of People " Mr. Pawn snorted as he walked away.

A gasp escaped from her, "hold on, you've not even been out yet so where did you see her?"

He paused, "her cackling laughter woke me, she was standing directly out the window with somebody for an early morning gossip and I'm not deaf"

Future clapped with excitement "oh my! you're living the imagination of almost every girl right now" she placed her hands one after the other on her chest, closing her eyes, "especially those who love fantasy romance. Who wouldn't like to be declared as theirs in front of millions of thousands of people by the most eligible man in the kingdom?"

Seraphine couldn't believe her eyes and ears, seeing the lovestruck look the girl was putting on and the Shakespeare's poem she was reciting, "great! I think we need to revisit the issue of you spending time with Felicity, she's a bad influence on you"

Her attempt to smack the girl's arm failed as Future deflected and dashed up the stairs in pure laughter with Phoenix up on her heels.