Wanting to do a o/o with my new character// Closed, but lurk if you so wish

((She got the feels for Eli, btw

((oh shit
Manon raised her hand in a small wave. "Manon Delacroix. It is a pleasure to meet you, miss…?"

"Lia." His was cut shot, like she bit at the word as it left her mouth. Eli tilted his head in confusion as she set Jaiden down and walked back around the corner.

"I do not think she likes me much." Manon said thoughtfully.

He shrugged. "Would you mind getting Jaiden?" She was sitting on the ground playing with her thumbs and giggling lightly.

Manon crouched next to the girl, waving, with a bright smile. "Excuse me, would you mind allowing me to give you a ride?"

Jaiden looked over at Eli for a second, then back to Manon, reaching her arms up as far as they could and saying "Up!"

"Brilliant!" Manon picked her up easily, her smile brightening as she adjusted her grip on Jaiden to make her more comfortable.

She giggled, holding onto her Manon's shirt for balance. Eli smiled. "Ready to go home?" Jaided nodded, and Emma went "Yes!"

Manon looked to Eli to lead the way, not at all uncomfortable with Jaiden's hold on her shirt.

He smiled, walking out of the front door with a bit of pep in his step. "COuld you close the door behind us, Manon?"

She nodded, and shut the door, before following him, watching him with a fond smile.

He fished out his keys from his pocket, walking to the door and twisting it. "Home sweet home," he said pushing the door open. It opened into a messy living room, with a single loveseat in the corner with a tiny flatscreen mounted on the opposite wall. Various toys were scattered around the floor, all of them dolls and other girl things. A doorway on the right side went into a kitchen, while stairs obviously went upstairs near the back of the living room.

"It is a nice home." Manon said honestly, taking it in with wide eyes. Her own apartment was small and messy but it was so lonely, the opposite feeling she found in this house.

"Wish it was bigger, but it's home." He set Emma down, who immediately picked a doll and dran upstairs. Jaiden still clung tightly to Manon's shirt, obviously not about to let go.

Manon seemed completely fine with that, holding the girl close. "Big houses are extremely overrated, take it from someone who grew up in them. They are lonely and hard to clean."

"These get a bit cramped, though." He walked over to the love seat and sat down, not even bothering to turn on the TV.

She followed, sitting down next to him and shifting Jaiden onto her lap. "That would make sense then, for wanting a bigger house,"

"Just can't really afford it right now." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, looking exhausted.

"The job at the firm likely pays more, and you will have more free time." She said, looking over at him.

He smiled, still not opening his eyes. "Sounds wonderful."

"Yes, well, I will be taking you out of the house from time to time, and the girls are welcome to come. Changing up your routine will be good."

He didn't respond, but he leaned over, haying his head on her shoulder and sighing out of his nose.

She flushed, but didn't move. It was nice, she had to admit, the physical contact. She hadn't really felt that in a while.

"Why are you so tense?" He asked, opening his eyes. "Your shoulders are all scrunched up."

"Sorry?" She relaxed her shoulders, despite the voice of her etiquette teacher in the back of her head, snapping at her to sit up straight.

"It wasn't bad, I just wanted to know."

"It is likely the posture habits that were drilled into me as a child." She said, shrugging her free shoulder.

"You had posture drilled into you?"

"Well yes. My family is fairly prominent, and high class. I was supposed to set an example, especially as their only daughter."